Castlegar resident busted for fraud after reporting vehicle stolen to ICBC

December 28, 2011

A Castlegar man has been fined $2,750 after admitting he lied to police about his truck being stolen.

Back in April 2009, Kyle Anderson told police he parked his Toyota Tacoma 4x4 on a beach near Creston and went for a walk along the beach with a friend and the truck was gone when they returned.

A subsequent investigation revealed the truck had been involved in a hit and run in the same area five days earlier. An elderly woman in the other car was injured in the crash – but the driver of the truck took off to avoid liability and possible criminal charges.

Anderson, who also did not have a valid driver’s licence at the time, pled guilty to providing false or misleading information to ICBC.

The judge who accepted Anderson’s guilty plea was not impressed and fined the 29-year-old $2,750.

“Insurance fraud is a serious crime that steals hard-earned money from the overwhelming majority of our honest customers,” said Steve Tripp, manager of ICBC’s special investigations unit. “We will not sit back and simply pass the cost of fraud on to our customers.”

The public can help combat fraud. Anyone with information regarding a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to call ICBC’s fraud tips line at 604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844 toll free from anywhere in the province. Callers can remain anonymous.

Media contact:

Mark Jan Vrem
604-982-2476