Crime Stoppers takes ‘unusual step’ to accept tips from extortion victims

A bullet hole is seen in the window of a Surrey business whose owner has been targeted in multiple extortion threats.

Mero Vancouver Crime Stoppers says it has begun accepting tips from victims of extortion amid rising concerns about threats on local businesses.

The organization says the move is an “unusual step” away from its normal practice of gathering information from witnesses.

“Normally, we don’t accept tips from crime victims themselves as they may be in immediate need of help and should call 9-1-1 or the police directly,” said executive director Linda Annis, in a news release Tuesday.

“However, in this instance we’ve to decided to relax that and accept information from targets of extortion threats, knowing their information may be of value to police.”

Read more: B.C. launches campaign urging South Asian community to report extortion threats

Crime Stoppers says it has received more than 70 extortion-related anonymous tips over the past year-and-a-half, which have been reported to police.

“With the ongoing threats and violence against South Asian businesses we’ve seen in Surrey and elsewhere, we continue to urge anyone with information to call us if they fear for their own safety and don’t want to be identified in any way, and that includes people who’ve been threatened or become extortion victims,” Annis continued.

Business owners have reported receiving phone calls demanding enormous sums – and then having their premises shot up if they don’t comply.

Earlier this month, the RCMP arrested two suspects connected to extortion threats in Surrey on allegations of discharging a firearm and arson.

Police say they’re actively investigating 12 extortion files in the city, but believe many more have gone unreported.

Read more: 2 arrested amid investigation into extortion of South Asian businesses in B.C.’s Lower Mainland

The Surrey Police Service recently launched a dedicated Extortion Investigation Team, and the RCMP revealed it has been probing extortions with a Joint Forces Operation that began some time last year.

Extortion victims are urged to contact local police, but Crime Stoppers says some people might feel more comfortable contacting them as they guarantee anonymity.

“We understand some new Canadians might have feared the authorities in their home countries. While they’re free of that burden here in Canada, a deep-seated mistrust of the police is still hard to overcome,” Annis said.

“Let me assure everyone that Crime Stoppers is not the police, and that it is totally safe for anyone to call our anonymous tips line. Even if the information seems minor, it could turn out to be a missing piece of the puzzle police need to solve the case.”

Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Andrew Weichel and Kevin Charach