The City of Surrey is putting up a $250,000 reward to combat rampant extortion threats and establish a tip hotline. On September 15, Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norm Lipinski and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced $250,000 in City of Surrey funding that will allow SPS to establish a Surrey Extortion Reward Fund and Surrey Extortion Tip Line. These additional tools will be used to help combat the extortions occurring in Surrey and the associated shootings, violence, threats and fear that accompany them.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

SURREY – The City of Surrey is putting up a $250,000 reward to combat rampant extortion threats and establish a tip hotline.

On September 15, Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norm Lipinski and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced $250,000 in City of Surrey funding that will allow SPS to establish a Surrey Extortion Reward Fund and Surrey Extortion Tip Line. These additional tools will be used to help combat the extortions occurring in Surrey and the associated shootings, violence, threats and fear that accompany them.

The Surrey Extortion Reward Fund of $250,000.00 will offer individuals with key information the ability to collect a reward if charges and convictions of those responsible for these crimes are secured.

Operating in conjunction with the Reward Fund, the Surrey Extortion Tip Line (236-485-5149) will be monitored by SPS police officers, seven days a week, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Punjabi-speaking officers will be available as required. This phone line will allow Surrey Police investigators to receive information and connect with witnesses who have evidence, leading to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of individuals involved in the extortion files.

 “Extortion investigations are complex and, in many cases, involve organized crime groups operating inside and outside the country. For these reasons, obtaining information that can advance police investigations to the point where charges and convictions can be realized is challenging,” said Lipinski. “This is why this additional investigational tool is being launched, through the support of the City of Surrey.”

 “Everyone has the right to live and work without fear, and we need anyone with information to come forward before someone gets hurt or worse,” Mayor Brenda Locke said. “I want to thank Chief Lipinski and SPS for their tireless work on these priority investigations. Surrey is strongest when law enforcement, city staff, partners, and the community act together to hold offenders accountable.”

The creation of the Surrey Extortion Reward Fund and the Surrey Extortion Tip Line are Surrey-specific responses to the significant number of extortions in our city, which are negatively impacting Surrey business operators and overall public safety. SPS will also continue working with our law enforcement partners on the larger, multi-jurisdictional challenges involving extortions.

“Extortions are planned and deliberate, and while we are told transnational, make no mistake: This is a Canadian problem, affecting Canadian businesses and Canadian residents. I have heard from families how frightening it is to hear gunfire right outside their home while their children are sleeping. Everyone has the right to live and work without fear, and we need anyone with information to come forward before someone gets hurt or worse,” Locke said. 

“The Surrey Extortion Reward Fund will provide police with another important tool to address this most urgent issue in our community. It is our hope that this will motivate individuals to call our new tip line to provide evidence to police that will lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible,” Lipinski. “I thank the City of Surrey for providing this funding, the Surrey Police Board for establishing the reward fund, and Surrey Police Service staff for their continuing hard work on these very complex and important investigations.”  

As of Sept. 15, the Surrey Police Service is actively investigating 44 extortion cases, including 27 that involved shootings, highlighting the serious threat these crimes pose to the community. 

The Surrey Extortion Reward Fund of $250,000 will offer individuals with key information the ability to collect a reward if they are prepared to work with police to secure charges and convictions of those responsible for these crimes. Individuals with information are asked to call the Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149. This tip line will be monitored by Surrey Police investigators, seven days a week, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Punjabi-speaking officers will be available as required.