RCMP say gunfire and an apparent arson attempt at a Surrey, B.C., home bear the hallmarks of recent extortion attempts in the community.
Police were called to a home near 88 Avenue and 192 Street in the Port Kells neighbourhood shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10.
Officers found signs of a shooting along with evidence of an attempted arson, police said in a Tuesday media release.
Someone associated with the home then received a demand for money on Sunday, leading police to believe the incident is linked to ongoing extortion attempts across the Lower Mainland.
“Thankfully no one was injured during this incident,” Surrey RCMP Sgt. Tammy Lobb said.
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“The Surrey RCMP continues to take reports of extortions very seriously, we do have a dedicated team of investigators who are working on those investigations, and we encourage anyone who becomes the victim of an extortion to call the Surrey RCMP immediately, to not give in to those demands and to stop communicating with the people communicating with them asking for money.”
Police said they later recovered a vehicle linked to the incident, a Kia Rio 5, which they determined was stolen from a Newton business complex.
Anyone with information about the vehicle or who saw it near 88 Avenue and 192 Street on Aug. 10 between 3 and 4 a.m. is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.