Vancouver police are urging young people who feel unsafe to call them after a series of “troubling and violent” incidents involving teens in the past few weeks.
Investigations have been opened into several recent swarmings, robberies and reports of humiliating and demeaning rituals involving youth, said Sgt.
Steve Addison on Tuesday. “A number of teens have already been hurt,” he told reporters. “We’re worried this violence could escalate and although there are a number of investigations that are taking place, we do believe there are a number of incidents that have gone unreported.” Read more: Grief and anger at vigil honouring 24-year-old woman found dead at vacant Vancouver home On April 24, police said a 13-year-old boy was lured from West Vancouver to Stanley Park through someone he befriended online.
At the park, he was swarmed by a group of intoxicated teens, who kicked, pepper-sprayed and robbed him of his phone, according to police.