BURST
A string of death threats, assaults and robbery have resulted in criminal charges against two teenage boys from the Lower Mainland.
Three charges of robbery, two charges of uttering threats and one charge of assault have been approved against a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy. Neither of them can be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Detectives from Metro Vancouver Transit Police linked three robberies and an assault on the transit system. They took place on trains and in stations in Port Moody, Burnaby and Coquitlam over about six weeks across late March and early April, targeting other teens on the transit system.
Just before 10 p.m. on March 29, two people confronted an 18-year-old on a train at Moody Centre Station in Port Moody, threatening to kill him before assaulting him.
On the afternoon of April 6, two 15-year-old boys were on board a train at Burquitlam Station in Coquitlam when they were approached and ordered to hand over their mobile phones. A 13-year-old boy was approached at the station soon after and ordered to hand over his wallet.
On April 7, just after 3 p.m., cash was demanded from two 15-year-old boys at Lougheed SkyTrain Station in Burnaby. One boy was grabbed and his wallet ripped form his pocket.
The suspects have been released from custody with a multitude of court-ordered conditions including not to enter SkyTrain property unless in the immediate company of a guardian, not to possess weapons, and 24-hour house arrest.
“Young people often rely on the transit system to get them to where they need to go,” said Const. Amanda Steed. “They deserve to feel safe at all times. We encourage parents and teens to ensure that Transit Police contact numbers are saved in their phone and that they have reviewed our safety tips prior to heading out on the system.”
If you, or someone you know has been the victim of a similar crime, and you have not yet spoken to police, please call (604) 515-8300 or text 87.77.77.