On May 31, 2012 at 7:36 P.M., an elderly woman reported to the police that an unknown person attended her apartment in the Uptown area of New Westminster and claimed that he was from her oxygen tank company. During the conversation, the unknown male stated that the rates on her oxygen had gone up $40 dollars per month. The elderly woman subsequently paid the male $80 cash for next two month supply of her oxygen. Once the male obtained the money, he stated that he had left an item in the suite of another customer and had to retrieve it. The unknown male subsequently did not return to the woman’s apartment. The suspect is described as follows:
- Caucasian male
- 55 years old
- dark tanned skin
- brush cut hair style
- wearing a dark jacket
- ruddy looking face
The New Westminster Police Department reminds the public to be vigilant about not allowing strangers into their apartment buildings. If someone knocks on your door, determine if they have a legitimate reason for being there and don’t answer your door if you are not expecting anyone. They also advise the public to request identification from those claiming to be from a company or organization.
If the public have any information about this incident or have had a similar incident happen to them, they are asked to contact the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.