On February 17, 2013 at approximately 12:45 pm, the New Westminster Police Department attended the area of Park Row for a complaint of a suspicious person. The complainant advised that a man had buzzed his apartment stating that he was from Shaw Cable and needed to be let in. The complainant went to the front entranceway and let the man into the building.
The suspicious male stated that he needed access to the cable box to do some work before a supposed upgrade on Tuesday. When asked for identification from Shaw Cable, he was unable to provide any proof of employment other than his jacket which had “Shaw Cable” on the front. The persistent resident then asked if the male had a contact name for someone in the building or if he could provide a work order. The male could not provide any identification or work order so the complainant asked him to leave. The male left the building immediately.
The complainant watched the male leave the building and observed that he did not get into a Shaw vehicle; rather, he continued eastbound on foot towards Queens Park. Patrols by the New Westminster Police were negative for the male. The New Westminster Police spoke with a Shaw Cable representative who was able to confirm that there was no Shaw maintenance scheduled at that location on February 17, 2013. Shaw Cable advised that if a legitimate Shaw employee was to attend, he would come with his own key to the building as well as his own key to the cable room.
The resident provided the following description of the suspicious male:
– Caucasian male
– Mid 20s
– Approximately 5′ 10” height
– Short beard – described as “scruffy”
– Wearing a grey Shaw Cable jacket with a tool belt around his waist.
The New Westminster Police Department is reminding all residents to be vigilant about who they let in to their building and to be cautious of the legitimacy of visits. Please contact the New Westminster Police Department if you need assistance.