BURST
Surrey police are investigating after another home was targeted in an extortion-related shooting.
According to police, the shooting was reported just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday at a home near King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue.
Police arrived to find none of the occupants had been injured but did locate damage to the home and bullet casings on the street outside.
Surrey Police’s dedicated extortion team has taken over the file and remained on scene Wednesday morning to investigate.
“Although this incident is in the early stages of investigation, the motivation for the shooting is believed to be extortion,” said police in a statement.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact investigators at 604-599-0502 and cite file number 26-38195 (SP). Those who wish to remain anonymous can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Earlier this month, Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski said there had been a “ meaningful decline ” in extortion threats and related incidents in the first three months of the year.
Extortion threats have dropped from 44 in January to 17 in February and 14 in March, he said in a video posted on X on Friday, while shots-fired incidents have gone from 10 in January to one in February and three in March.
Extortion threats have been an continuing concern in recent years, particularly in the South Asian business community where businesses and homes have been targeted in shooting incidents.
A number of task forces have been established at the municipal, provincial and federal level to probe the shootings and threats, while the city of Surrey has put up $250,000 for resources to fight extortion crime in the city.
A dedicated tip line is also available at 236-485-5149 for those wanting to report extortions or who may have information that can assist in investigations.