Sask. RCMP briefs: phone call catches alleged robber, scammers pose as police

Phone calls by scammers alleged to be impersonating police and a well-timed call to catch a suspect are some of the cases Saskatchewan RCMP is dialing in on this week.

Officers have also caught a man they say was attempting to smuggle opium into Canada at a Saskatchewan border.

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Lucky number

A report of a robbery around 7:30 a.m. on Sat, March 7 had Battlefords RCMP respond to a business in North Battleford on the Highway 16 bypass.

After investigating, officers said in a release that a man had allegedly threatened a person with a firearm and demanded the victim’s cell phone and wallet.

Using GPS, officers determined the stolen phone was just outside the business. Officers went outside, dialed the number of the stolen phone and heard it ring. A man was in possession of the phone and police arrested him.

There were no injuries reported to police.

After searching a room in the business, officers said they found and seized a sawed-off firearm, ammunition and a baton.

A 23-year-old man from North Battleford is facing 11 charges, including armed robbery, break and enter with intent and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The man appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on Mon, March 9.

RCMP continue to investigate.

Phone scam impersonates RCMP

Battlefords RCMP are also warning people in the province about a phone scam involving the caller impersonating Saskatchewan RCMP.

Police received a report of a person who answered a phone call that appeared to belong to a Sask. RCMP detachment.

The caller instructed the person who answered to go withdraw money from an ATM at a local gas station, and warned them not to go to any RCMP detachments or they would be arrested.

In a release, the Battlefords RCMP said scammers can manipulate caller ID to show a real phone number, including a real RCMP location.

RCMP said it will never request money or threaten arrest for making a report to police and urge the public to verify their local RCMP detachment’s phone number using those listed online.

People who receive a suspicious phone call or text are instructed to hang up immediately, not share personal information and not to send or withdraw money. Caller ID cannot always be trusted, RCMP said, and it is not safe to engage with automated prompts, like pressing buttons according to instructions given over the phone.

RCMP in the province ask people to report any similar scam calls or texts to their local detachment through 310-RCMP, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.