Victoria Community Information

Operational Update 

Although the calls for service declined in Q2 over Q1, Patrol officers continued to respond to numerous calls for violence in the downtown core and calls that require significant resources. Of note were a violent daytime robbery of a jewelry store, and an assault on police officers outside a nightclub. In many cases, VicPD has been able to quickly apprehend the suspects and make arrests following a call for service. 

Following a lengthy and thorough investigation, Major Crimes investigators arrested a man for an arson to a family home that occurred in April 2022. 

Community Services Division, with the support of Patrol members, focused on Project Downtown Connect during Q2. This project was initiated in response to downtown businesses reporting an increase in street disorder and criminal acts such as thefts and mischiefs. The goal of the project was to increase the police presence downtown while connecting with as many businesses as possible. In addition, as members attended businesses, they discussed any ongoing concerns and issues, provided staff with a VicPD information card, and obtained updated contact information for the businesses. 

Files of Note

Files: 22-14561, 22-14619 Major Crime Detectives Arrest Man For Arson
Following a lengthy and thorough investigation, Major Crimes investigators arrested a man for an arson to a family home that occurred in April 2022.  

File: 23-18462 Downtown Assault and Mischief
Shortly after 8 a.m. on May 24, officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1200-block of Douglas Street. Officers determined that the suspect had assaulted a passerby and smashed the window of a vehicle that was stopped in traffic.  

The suspect was arrested at the scene and held for court. The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

File: 23-12279 Recreation Centre Thefts
On April 5, 2023, VicPD received a report of a theft from a recreation centre in the 500-block of Fraser Street. The victim reported that their wallet had been stolen and credit cards used at various retail outlets in the Greater Victoria area. Later that day, another individual reported their wallet and credit card were also stolen from the same location.  

Investigators determined that several purchases were made in quick succession using the stolen credit cards. Investigators obtained CCTV footage of the suspects as they used the stolen credit cards. 

File: 23-13520 Armed Robbery at Downtown Jewelry Store 
Patrol officers were called to a jewelry store just before 3:45 pm on Saturday, April 15. Staff told officers that a man had entered the store brandishing a hammer. He was confronted by staff but pushed his way behind the counters. He was able to open two of the display cases with the hammer, stealing merchandise from one of them, despite staff members’ attempts to intervene. The suspect smashed another display case and stole an expensive watch before being pushed outside by staff. The suspect fled before the responding officers arrived. 

File: 23-12462 Officers Assaulted
On April 7 at approximately 1:20 a.m., officers were called to the 800-block of Yates Street for a report of an intoxicated patron refusing to leave the establishment. While escorting the patron outside, two officers were assaulted by the patron and another individual, and one of the officers was disarmed. The second person was known to the patron and had also been asked to leave the nightclub earlier. 

File: 23-7127 Investigators Seize Over Half A Million Dollars in Contraband Cigarettes and Cash 

In February, officers with the General Investigation Section (GIS) began an investigation into the sale of contraband tobacco in the Greater Victoria area.  

The investigation led officers to a storage locker in View Royal and a residence in the 2400-block of Chambers Street in Victoria. On April 12, investigators executed search warrants at both locations and seized over 2,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes and $65,000 in Canadian currency. The value of the seized cigarettes is approximately $450,000.