Daytime break and enter in Cole Harbour

May 23, 2018, Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia … Halifax District RCMP responded to a break and enter at a residence on Ashgrove Ave. in Cole Harbour on Monday. The break-in occurred between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. when the home owners were not home. Suspects entered the home and stole a laptop, desktop computer, iPad, iPhone and money.

RCMP encourages the public to watch for any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood. If you do observe any, you are asked to contact police.

If you have any information regarding this crime you are asked to contact Halifax District RCMP at 902-490-5020. Should you wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

Halifax Regional Police issues warning about “virtual kidnapping scam”

Halifax Regional Police is warning the public after a student from China was targeted in a “virtual kidnapping” extortion scam.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., Halifax Regional Police received a report that a female student from China, studying in Halifax, had been kidnapped, and her family in China had been contacted to pay a ransom for her return. Through the investigation, officers located the 22-year-old woman, who was not physically harmed, at approximately 10: 30 a.m. Investigators have determined that the incident was an elaborate extortion scam also known as a virtual kidnapping. The investigation is in the early stages and limited details are available at this time.

This is the first report of this extortion scam in Halifax but it has occurred in other areas of the country. The scam begins with a call to a student advising that there is a warrant for their arrest in China, or that the Chinese police need their help with an investigation. The scammers eventually convince the victim to record fake videos that make it appear they have been kidnapped or are the victim of another crime.

The scammers send the videos to the victim’s family members who are extorted for money. The victim is then told to go into hiding from Canadian police. The victims have generally been women in their early 20s from China, who are in Canada studying on a student visa. The scammers are not likely in Canada.

Police want to remind all international students studying in Halifax that police officers from another country will not arrest you in Canada. Legitimate contact from the authorities from your country will be through your local police. Police officers will not ask you to take photos or videos of yourself pretending to be the victim of a crime. Police officers are here to help you and you should reach out to your local police if a situation arises that makes you feel frightened or confused.

This incident remains under investigation by members of the Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Section. Investigators are asking anyone who may have been the victim of a similar incident to contact police.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (902) 490-5016. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca. or by using the P3 Tips App.

Recent break and enters target vacant homes

May 18, 2018, Cow Bay, Nova Scotia … Halifax District RCMP is asking residents to contact police if you observe any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood following 6 break and enters in to homes in the Cow Bay and Eastern Passage communities since May 6. The homes were targeted during the daytime. Those responsible stole televisions, XBox, money and other electronics.

The investigations are continuing. If you have any information about these incidents you are asked contact Halifax District RCMP at 902-490-5020. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit by secure online tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or use the P3 Tips App.

Halifax Regional Police investigate a robbery that occurred Thursday morning in Halifax.

At approximately 1:23 a.m. on May 17, police responded to a robbery in progress at the Irving gas station located at 2499 Robie Street, Halifax. A woman entered; stated she had weapon and demanded cash. No weapons were seen. The woman fled on a bicycle towards North St. K9 attended but were unable to locate the woman.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident or the other suspects to call police at 902-490-5016.  Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca