Chase is on the case, after a three-year-old’s Paw Patrol birthday party at City Centre Community Centre was allegedly crashed by a hungry, self-admiring middle-age couple.
Stephanie Wong told the Richmond News that her private function on Saturday afternoon, attended by roughly 70 friends and family members, was intruded upon by two strangers who appeared intent on eating food and cake and getting their photo taken in the rental photo booth.
She said the incident is a reminder to keep a watchful eye for your children, even in a seemingly secure setting such as a privately-rented community centre room.
“It was so busy, there was little time for my husband and I to be together. But we looked at the couple and they didn’t look familiar at all,” said Wong, 32, a long-time Richmondite and graduate of Hugh Boyd secondary.
Wong asked the uninvited couple who they were with.
“They were trying to brush me off because they were so focused on their photo,” she said.
When they finally pointed at a family across the room and Wong investigated, the couple vanished, with a plate full of food, including pizza, chow mien and spring rolls.
When asked, Wong said she didn’t believe this was a case of an unknowing, non-English-speaking person who innocently stumbled upon the party, thinking it was a free, community event.
“They lied to us, and so clearly. They knew what they were doing,” contended Wong, adding it would be hard to miss the birthday balloons and signs.
Wong posted the incident to Facebook as a warning.
“At first we thought it was a funny story but after all the talk on Facebook, we think it could be dangerous as well. The message is for parents to be more aware. You never know who can come in and what can happen. We’re lucky they were only interested in food and photos,” said Wong.
One person on Facebook said the couple had crashed their party at Garden City Park.
City spokesperson Ted Townsend said this is the first officials have heard of such an incident. He said staff have been asked to ensure there is some signage that indicates a private function is being held inside a room.
