23430 replies to this topic

[Matt R.]

How many pink buildings are there?

2?

[pontcanna]

B.C. security guard used master key and codes to rob banks of $400,000: government lawsuit

The man and his wife then used the cash to invest in two Nanaimo properties, over 300 comic books, several vehicles and 70 firearms

by Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun
Jun 08, 2023 

 

Facebook selfie of Chris Eldred-Ascolese, who along with his social worker wife Tianna Della Rosa allegedly used the cash to invest in two Nanaimo properties, over 300 comic books, several vehicles and 70 firearms, according to a statement of claim filed this week by the director of civil forfeiture. 

A one-time employee of GardaWorld Security used a master door key, alarm codes and combinations for ATMs issued for his work to steal more than $400,000 from Fraser Valley banks, a new lawsuit filed by the B.C. government alleges.

Christopher Eldred-Ascolese and his wife Tianna Della Rosa then used the cash to invest in two Nanaimo properties, over 300 comic books, several vehicles and 70 firearms, according to a statement of claim filed this week by the director of civil forfeiture.

Neither Eldred-Ascolese nor Della Rosa have been charged criminally, Crown spokesman Dan McLaughlin said Thursday.

But the director of civil forfeiture wants the two properties, as well as almost $280,000 seized from their Nanaimo home in March, to be forfeited to the B.C. government as proceeds of criminal activity.

The lawsuit naming the couple was filed June 5. No statement of defence has yet been entered in the case.

The director says that in July 2021, Eldred-Ascolese and Della Rosa “were suspected to be involved in the break and enter of a number of banks and subsequent thefts from various ATMs located therein in the Chilliwack and Hope areas.”

“In total, approximately $398,520 Canadian and $11,820 U.S. was stolen. The break and enters and theft were committed using master door key, alarm codes, and ATM combinations issued to GardaWorld,” the director said in his statement of claim.

Surveillance video captured the female suspect wearing a bright blue collared shirt, dark pants, a medical style mask, latex gloves and a dark coloured ball cap after a series of ATM thefts in 2021. 

In April 2021, the couple purchased a property on Roberta Road in south Nanaimo for $499,000, the lawsuit says.

Then on March 3, 2023, they bought an acreage on Barnes Road in Nanaimo for $840,000 and moved in, the director said.

Chilliwack RCMP issued a news release seeking the public’s help in identifying a mystery woman suspected of robbing ATMs in July 2021 while posing as a cleaner. 

Just five days later, Chilliwack RCMP executed a search warrant at the property in connection with their investigation and seized the cash, located inside a safe, “the comic books, the Harley, two cell phones, a money-counting machine,  the firearms, some of which no longer bore serial numbers, ammunition, magazines, a gun stock, and other firearms parts.”

Local investigators worked with Fintrac which led to the recent execution of a search warrant at a residence in Nanaimo on Barnes Road.

 

More: https://vancouversun...anks-bc-lawsuit

 

Edited by pontcanna, 09 June 2023 - 02:03 AM.

[pontcanna]

Witnesses And Dashcam Footage Sought In Hit And Run Investigation 

 

Date: Friday, June 9, 2023 

 

File: #23-19496 

 

Victoria, BC – Investigators are asking for additional information after a hit and run that occurred last week. 

 

On May 31 at approximately 10:30 p.m., a vehicle was struck by another vehicle as it was travelling westbound in the 400-block of Bay Street. The suspect vehicle quickly left the scene and was last seen travelling northbound in the 2500-block of Bridge Street. It is described as a black truck or SUV with front-end damage and a BC license plate beginning with “MW.” 

 

The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was assessed by BC Emergency Health Services paramedics at the scene. Below is a map of the area where the collision occurred.

 

 

Investigators are looking for dashcam or CCTV footage of the collision or of the suspect vehicle in the area of the collision. If you have video footage or have additional information and have not already spoken with officers, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please contact Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers. 

 

[pontcanna]

Guilty plea after man drops log off Jesse Island cliff onto kayakers near Nanaimo

Jun 9, 2023 

NANAIMO — A man admitted to his role in connection to a high profile assault last summer which local RCMP say could have been fatal.

 

Tristan Jed Maunder, 38, pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon on Tuesday, June 6 in provincial court in Nanaimo after he pushed an estimated 20 foot long log from a Jesse Island cliff.

Nanaimo RCMP reported the Aug. 6 2022 incident saw an eight inch thick object hit a woman with enough force to send her into the water.

Her male companion was also hit by the log, but was able to stay upright and help his friend to the shore of nearby Stephenson Point, according to police.

Tristan Maunder pushed this log from a Jesse Island cliff after police say he took exception to two kayakers exploring at the base of Jesse Island.

A pre-sentence report with a psychological component was ordered by a judge in advance of a sentencing hearing to take place at a yet to be determined date.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien earlier told NanaimoNewsNOW the kayakers were looking at some rock formations at the base of Jesse Island minutes prior to the assault.

“They had a short exchange with that person, and that individual told them they weren’t wanted on the island. They told him they weren’t planning on going on the Island, they were paddling in their kayaks and well within their right to do so. So they ignored him and continued on their way.”

A few minutes later, according to police, the kayakers heard some noise above them and saw the same man pushing a large log off a cliff directly above them.

Jesse Island is private property comprised of about nine acres in size and home to a residential address.

More: https://nanaimonewsn...s-near-nanaimo/

[pontcanna]

They are on Martel's borrowers list but never borrowed a cent

 

List claims company borrowed $2.77 million, but they say they never had any dealings with Martel

 

Greg Martel

 

A Victoria home design firm was left stunned this week to find it had been included in a list of companies to which mortgage broker Greg Martel claims to have loaned money.

Java Designs, owned by Kyle Leggett, got a shock when an email from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the firm overseeing the receivership of Martel and his companies, demanded repayment of nearly $2.77 million in loans and interest.

Leggett and his wife, Tara, who together own homebuilder Casa Milano Properties, said they still can’t believe it because ­neither of them have ever done any business with Martel and did not take out a loan with him.

“I can’t believe what we’ve had to deal with, it’s been a very stressful few days,” said Tara Leggett. She said she still can’t get over the audacity Martel had to include their company on a list prepared for the receiver.

The receiver is working to get to the bottom of what ­happened to about $226 million that about 1,200 investors entrusted to Martel.

“It’s so incredibly false and incorrect — we’ve never even exchanged a dime,” Tara Leggett said. “This is really unsettling, my stress level has gone through the roof.”

The “borrowers list” included in the receiver’s fourth report released late Thursday includes a series of what the receiver calls “investment opportunities” that includes the name of the borrower, how much they have borrowed and what it was for.

The list appears to include several companies that never borrowed a dime.

Two long-established Victoria developers who appear on the list, but asked not to be named, confirmed they have never ­borrowed from Martel.

“I can’t believe he had the audacity to throw somebody, some really good people, under the bus for absolutely no reason whatsoever,” she said. They were reassured by PWC that they are unlikely to be drawn into the Martel affair as there are no financial records that the loan ever existed.

PricewaterhouseCoopers would not comment on what it makes of the accuracy of the borrowers list. In its report, however, it noted it asked Martel about the list during a video call. Martel claimed for confidentiality reasons the borrowers list does not include the true names of the borrowers.

Martel also told the receiver he could not provide borrowers list details or loan agreements as a result of being locked out of the software platform used to keep track of it.

As a result, the receiver intends to file an application for contempt of court today in Vancouver during a scheduled court date.

 

More: https://www.timescol...-a-cent-7120511

 

[baconnbits]

So this guy is just a thief

[pontcanna]

@vicpdcanada

File #23-20215 

 

Have you seen this Graco baby stroller? It was stolen Tuesday afternoon from Gonzales Beach while a mother was nearby with her baby. It contained a pair of pink sparkly shoes and a baby blanket and is valued at approx. $700.

 

[todd]

So this guy is just a thief

[martini]

 A6CBC116-EB95-40A3-9783-888BD9A486B2.jpeg

And in an undisclosed location overseas. 

[todd]

Is that a crime?

It’s from Las Vegas not Australia.

Edited by todd, 09 June 2023 - 06:50 PM.

[pontcanna]

West Shore RCMP investigating report of a suspicious person

2023-06-08 

File # 2023-9452 and 11038

The West Shore RCMP is currently investigating a report of a suspicious person near the 200 block of Helmcken Rd in View Royal.

On May 17 2023, at approximately 12:30 p.m. the West Shore RCMP responded to a report of a male who was seen sitting on the railway track near this location partially clothed within view of nearby View Royal Elementary School. Police attended the area at the time the report was received and conducted patrols but were unable to locate the suspect.

On June 7, at approximately 2:36 p.m., police received another report of a male matching the same description walking Northbound on the E&N trail at the same location. Officers from West Shore RCMP Frontline Policing, Bike Patrol Unit and Traffic Unit all attended and conducted extensive foot and vehicle patrols of the area, but were unable to locate the male suspect.
 

 

Times-Colonist:

[Victoria Watcher]

They are on Martel's borrowers list but never borrowed a cent
List claims company borrowed $2.77 million, but they say they never had any dealings with Martel


martel.png
Greg Martel

A Victoria home design firm was left stunned this week to find it had been included in a list of companies to which mortgage broker Greg Martel claims to have loaned money.

Java Designs, owned by Kyle Leggett, got a shock when an email from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the firm overseeing the receivership of Martel and his companies, demanded repayment of nearly $2.77 million in loans and interest.

Leggett and his wife, Tara, who together own homebuilder Casa Milano Properties, said they still can’t believe it because ­neither of them have ever done any business with Martel and did not take out a loan with him.

“I can’t believe what we’ve had to deal with, it’s been a very stressful few days,” said Tara Leggett. She said she still can’t get over the audacity Martel had to include their company on a list prepared for the receiver.

The receiver is working to get to the bottom of what ­happened to about $226 million that about 1,200 investors entrusted to Martel.

“It’s so incredibly false and incorrect — we’ve never even exchanged a dime,” Tara Leggett said. “This is really unsettling, my stress level has gone through the roof.”

The “borrowers list” included in the receiver’s fourth report released late Thursday includes a series of what the receiver calls “investment opportunities” that includes the name of the borrower, how much they have borrowed and what it was for.

The list appears to include several companies that never borrowed a dime.

Two long-established Victoria developers who appear on the list, but asked not to be named, confirmed they have never ­borrowed from Martel.

“I can’t believe he had the audacity to throw somebody, some really good people, under the bus for absolutely no reason whatsoever,” she said. They were reassured by PWC that they are unlikely to be drawn into the Martel affair as there are no financial records that the loan ever existed.

PricewaterhouseCoopers would not comment on what it makes of the accuracy of the borrowers list. In its report, however, it noted it asked Martel about the list during a video call. Martel claimed for confidentiality reasons the borrowers list does not include the true names of the borrowers.

Martel also told the receiver he could not provide borrowers list details or loan agreements as a result of being locked out of the software platform used to keep track of it.

As a result, the receiver intends to file an application for contempt of court today in Vancouver during a scheduled court date.

More: https://www.timescol...-a-cent-7120511

During the two-hour court session, Rubin noted that despite direct appeals to Martel during video calls and email exchanges, Martel still has yet to offer a single document to back up any of the bridge loans.

“To date, the receiver has found no loan agreements to support the bridge loans,” Rubin said. “At the end of the day, unfortunately, it looks like the receiver’s going to have to bring a contempt application.”

Rubin said that is a last resort if the receiver continues to hit a wall in trying to get the documentation.


https://www.timescol...os-firm-7126329

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 June 2023 - 04:49 AM.

[todd]

And in an undisclosed location overseas.

I never trust anyone with a slicked back haircut. Devious.

Edited by todd, 10 June 2023 - 08:43 AM.

[Mike K.]

Victoria’s problem with rampant theft has forced Value Village to discontinue its change rooms. And you can’t bring items back for a refund, you get to exchange the items only (no credit, no money back).

[Matt R.]

My lord that store is awful to be in. Always makes me itchy.

[Victoria Watcher]

The full statement of property shows the trustee now has control of just $292,586 between funds that are being held by the court and cash on hand already recovered.

Filed documents suggest My Mortgage has no real estate, no bills of exchange or promissory notes and no one owes it any money.

Martel has not been cooperative with the trustee and has provided no detail about the bridge loans that would allow the trustee to seek repayment in order to gather money for investors.

The money the trustee does have is already spoken for. PricewaterhouseCoopers is owed $300,000 for its services so far, while Royal Bank and My Mortgage employees, which are both considered secured creditors, are claiming $20,200 and $40,000 respectively.

https://www.timescol...million-7128193

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 June 2023 - 05:19 AM.

[martini]

https://www.cheknews...ruptcy-1155799/

Ritchie Clark told the courts he terminated his retainer with Martel on Tuesday, saying he’s withdrawing as counsel for “ethical reasons” although he didn’t specify what the reasons were.

[pontcanna]

Bike Patrol Unit arrests bike thief

West Shore

2023-06-12 

File #2023-11001

On June 7, the West Shore RCMP received a complaint from a resident of View Royal advising their children’s bike had been stolen from their home located near Burnett Rd in View Royal.

The responding officer obtained home surveillance footage of a female suspect stealing the bike. A few days later on June 9, officers from the West Shore RCMP Bike Unit were patrolling the E & N Rail Trail near Helmcken Rd when they spotted the same female suspect.

Bike patrol officers arrested the suspect for theft, she was later released on an Undertaking and is set to appear in court next month. Officers continue to keep an eye out for the stolen bike which has not yet been found.

The Bike Unit routinely patrols the trail systems in the West Shore. It’s a good idea to make note of your bicycle serial number as officers will run serial numbers of recovered bikes in attempts to reunite them with owners.
 
Released by

Cpl. Nancy Saggar
Media Relations Officer
West Shore RCMP

[pontcanna]

viccrimestop 

 

Saanich Police want to identify the person pictured. They are suspected of stealing items of clothes from a store in the Broadmead shopping center. The theft took place at about 2pm on March 18th.

 

 

If you know who they are and wish to tell us anonymously call 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online www.victoriacrimestoppers.ca
 

F/N #23-4914 

[pontcanna]

Man Arrested After Weapons Call

Date: Monday, June 12, 2023

File: #23-20649

Victoria, BC – Officers with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) arrested a man after a weapons call on Friday afternoon.

Just before 12:30 p.m., on Friday, June 9, officers responded to a report that a man had threatened to shoot someone in the 1100-block of Pandora Avenue before leaving the area in a vehicle. Patrol, Strike Force and GVERT all responded.  

Officers located the man in a vehicle near the intersection of Tyee Road and Wilson Street, where he was arrested by the GVERT.  

 

CHEK

 

He was transported to VicPD cells and held for court.

If you have information about this incident and have yet to speak with officers, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1.