
The anonymous tip line Crime Stoppers will now take extortion-related calls following a rash of targeted shootings at South Asian businesses, mainly in Surrey.
Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, said it’s unusual for the agency to take this step because they normally don’t accept tips from crime victims.
This is because victims who are calling about a crime are likely in need of help and should call 911.
“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,” said Annis in a statement Tuesday.
“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 said it’s important that new Canadians understand that Crime Stoppers is not the police, and that it “is totally safe” for anyone to call the anonymous tip 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,” said Annis.
Earlier this month, targeted gun shots were fired at a café owned by popular Bollywood star Kapil Sharma.
Since June, there have been five reported shooting incidents affecting the South Asian business community, including one at Surrey’s Nijjar Trucking and another at the Maple Ridge home of a Punjabi music producer.
Police have said the extortion crimes may be linked to the Bishnoi gang, an organized crime group based in India. Last month, B.C. Premier David Eby asked the federal government to classify the gang as a terrorist group.
Anonymous tips may be provided through Crime Stoppers’ smartphone app, by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at solvecrime.ca , or by following the link on the Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers Facebook page.
With files from Sobia Moman and Glenda Luymes