The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) will host a public event on Wednesday for residents who wish to learn more about extortion crimes in the Lower Mainland.
The Anti-Extortion Community Forum will outline what extortion looks like, how to identify warning signs, and steps to take if one is targeted.
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While no incidents of extortion have been reported in Vancouver itself, the VPD acknowledged that crime in nearby communities is generating fear and uncertainty – even for people in Vancouver.
“We know that these extortionists win when we hide in the shadows, and we’re trying to break the cycle and bring this out into the open by encouraging people to talk about,” said Sgt. Steve Addison.
“Our goal is to bring the community together, to have a community meeting to inform people in our community about what these extortions look like, how to tell if you’re being extorted, how to know what to do.”
Most of the extortion incidents have been reported in Surrey, with the Surrey Police Service alone investigating more than 100 cases.
Nearly half of those are related to shootings.
Many of the incidents have targeted members of the South Asian business community.
Kash Heed, a former B.C. public safety minister and VPD superintendent, says that the event is a valuable opportunity for residents.
“I know Vancouver has some structured plans in place with respect to if the phenomenon hits their jurisdiction,” said Heed, who is currently a Richmond councillor.
“They are ready to hit it hard to ensure it does not escalate to the point of what we’re seeing in some of the other jurisdictions.”
He says the forum is a good way of communicating about what could happen.
“We want to make sure, and I think Vancouver is very wise in getting in front of this and opening up those lines of communication because that is going to be very, very important.”
“Many of the people in the South Asian community who have lost confidence that the police can deal with their particular problem are actually paying these extortionists. We don’t want to get to that point, and I think Vancouver is wise in what they’re doing here.”
The forum will take place at 7 p.m. at the South Hall Banquet and Wedding Palace on Ross Street.
With files from Raynaldo Suarez.
