VPD hosts forum to educate public on extortion and safety measures

VANCOUVER — Vancouver police are urging members of the city’s South Asian community to report any signs of extortion after a wave of shootings and threats in Surrey raised fears the violence could spread.

At a public forum held Tuesday at South Hall, officers outlined how extortion schemes are evolving, saying they often begin with a threatening phone call, text message or social media contact before escalating.

Supt. Phil Heard said Vancouver has not recorded a confirmed extortion case, but the concern in the community is real.

“We’ve heard from residents, from businesses, that they’re concerned, and even though we haven’t had an extortion case reported yet in Vancouver, it’s affecting people’s sense of safety and well-being,” he said.

Surrey RCMP have reported more than 40 extortion attempts involving gunfire since last fall, most targeting members of the South Asian business community. The spike has prompted community leaders in Vancouver to worry the pattern could cross municipal lines.

“There’s always a fear that this will carry across the river, because these kinds of crimes do carry over,” said Jagdeep Sanghera, vice-president of the Khalsa Diwan Society. “There’s always a fear — there’s a big business community in Vancouver.”

“I applaud the Vancouver Police for taking this initiative and reaching out to the community.”

Investigators at the forum emphasized the importance of documenting and reporting any contact immediately, and preserving camera footage or damaged property if a threat escalates to violence.

“Together we can overcome these threats, we can ensure criminals do not prosper from these crimes, and we can bring those responsible to justice,” Heard told the crowd.

Police say they are prepared to increase resources if violent extortion attempts begin appearing in Vancouver, and plan to continue working with community groups to detect and respond to emerging threats.