Overview

New Cybercrime Section Launched

In January, we launched the new Cybercrime section at VicPD. Already, this unit has had an impact, contributing to the recovery of funds in a $1.7 Million fraud and money laundering case, and recovering cryptocurrency for four other victims. Cybercrime staff have been raising awareness of cyber security within VicPD, and within the community, empowering both officers and staff to combat cyber crime.  

Ongoing Demonstration Activity 

In October, weekly demonstrations surrounding the activity in Gaza began taking place in Victoria. These demonstrations require significant police resources to keep participants and the community safe, and continued into 2024. These events are staffed through overtime requests, placing additional strain on our resources as officers build towards exhaustion without proper breaks, though some costs are recovered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the B.C. Legislature. 

Project Lifter 

From February 9-11, officers conducted proactive shoplifting enforcement during a continuation of Project Lifter. In total, 23 arrests were made during this three-day period, and all were recommended charges.  The project utilized partnerships with Loss Prevention Officers to target multiple businesses.

Project Lifter was created in response to ongoing concerns from local businesses about regular retail theft and increased violence when there are attempts by staff to intervene, and the impact this has on business operations and staff safety. This is the second segment of Project Lifter which began as an eight-day retail theft project in December 2023 and forms a part of VicPD’s ongoing efforts to target retail theft and the associated violence.   

Welcoming New Faces 

On January 4, we welcomed 7 new recruit constables to VicPD.  On March 8, we celebrated four graduates from the Justice Institute of BC. These new constables have now hit the streets on Patrol. 

Officer Recognition

On January 30, frontline personnel and members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) were recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by the Saanich Police Department.  The GVERT received a team award from the National Tactical Officers Association. 

Project Halo

In January, VicPD’s Strike Force arrested a man with a known association to the B.C. gang conflict, after he was observed selling vape products to students just outside school property.  

As part of an ongoing covert operation, dubbed Project Halo, officers observed the suspect selling vape products and interacting with students on and near school property in and around the Greater Victoria area during the day. The suspect was seen selling to youth across from local schools including Esquimalt High School and Reynolds Secondary School, and was also observed interacting with youth on the property of North Saanich Middle School after school hours. 

Items seized from the suspect include: 

• 859 nicotine vapes 
• 495 THC vapes 
• 290 THC gummies 
• 1.6 kilograms of dried cannabis 
• Four imitation firearms 
• Three knives 
• Two masks 
• Composite brass knuckles 

Calls for Service

Calls for service remained steady in most categories during the first quarter of the year. When looking at the 6 broad categories of calls, there was a notable drop in calls for Property Crimes and Traffic. Compared to the same period in 2023, however, Social Order calls were up significantly, while calls for Violence were slightly down. Overall, calls for service in Victoria were reduced by approximately 350 over the same time period last year. A breakdown of the six categories can be found here. 

Looking a little closer at the drop in Property Crimes, we are showing back at 2013 levels in this category. Break and Enter, Bike Theft from Auto are significatly. Specifically,

Theft from auto – down 46% from 2023

Break and Enter – down 45% from 2023

Bike Theft – down 37% from 2023

Auto Theft – down 19% from 2023

Files of Note

24-1743: A Patrol officer conducting proactive patrols in the downtown core witnessed a man spit on the face of a woman pushing a baby in a stroller, near the intersection of Quadra Street and Yates Street on January 16. The suspect was arrested nearby, but the victim left the area. The victim saw VicPD’s media release and social media posts asking her to come forward and she was able to connect with the investigator. As a result, an Assault charge was able to be approved. The assault was believed to be random. 

File Number: 24-2007

Responding to a report from BC Corrections that an Esquimalt resident had breached house arrest, two Integrated Canine Units and several support members attended Esquimalt and observed the suspect near a residential property. Despite the suspect stealing and changing his shoes at the property, PSD Bruno was successful in tracking and locating the suspect, who was then arrested.

24-2512, 24-2513, 24-2508: On January 23 A man was arrested outside VicPD headquarters after randomly stabbing a cyclist and committing a series of offences at a downtown childcare facility earlier that day. The victim was passing by on a bicycle when they were approached by the suspect and slashed with a knife. The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect had entered a downtown childcare facility approximately one hour prior to the stabbing incident. Once inside, the suspect stole a tablet and pulled the fire alarm before leaving the building. The accused was charged with six criminal offences including Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Mischief, Theft and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. 

24-2596: Around 4:00 p.m. on January 23, officers attended the intersection of Douglas Street and Pembroke Street after a motorcycle veered into oncoming traffic and struck a pick-up truck travelling Southbound. Lifesaving efforts were provided by, but unfortunately the motorcyclists succumbed to their injuries. A busy area for commuters during this time, the road was closed for several hours while Traffic Analysts gathered evidence. No criminality or foul play was suspected. 

24-3500: VicPD received multiple calls about a man swinging a hatchet around in a busy downtown area just before 7:00 p.m. on January 30. Officers attended and located the man near the 1200-block of Government Street. When he was approached, he ignored commands from officers and pulled the hatchet out from his jacket. As a result, a less-lethal beanbag round was deployed to his thigh, and he was taken into custody. 

24-3688: On February 1 VicPD received multiple reports of vehicles being vandalized in the Fernwood and Oak Bay area. Later that evening, the lower Cook Street area was also targeted. Upwards of 70 vehicles were affected, causing a massive inconvenience to the community. Officers conducted an extensive search for the suspect and with helpful tips from the public, VicPD’s General Investigation Section was able to locate and arrest the accused. Charges of Mischief were approved.

File Number: 24-6308 and 24-6414

A person wanted on warrants for home invasions fled from police. When they were taken into custody during a later search of their storage lockers, they were found to be in possession of three firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, an assault rifle and a hunting rifle, as well as ammunition, despite a firearms and ammunition prohibition.

File Number: 24-6289

An investigation into illegal tobacco trafficking led to discovery of $130,000 CAD cash, contraband cigarettes with a street value of $500,000 and a significant quantity of cannabis in the suspect’s Esquimalt apartment.

File Number: 24-7093

A complainant in Esquimalt was defrauded of more than $900,000 USD after investing in an online bank.

22-31443: During a coordinated investigation that began in 2022, officers arrested a man involved in several “rental scam” frauds, where he would collect deposits with prospective tenants and provide written agreements and key fobs, but no property existed. On February 12, the accused, Brandon Wildman, was sentenced to 42 months in jail and ordered to pay restitution to the victims upon release. He was convicted of seven counts of Fraud and had a criminal history including eight prior convictions for fraud. 

24-8742: VicPD Patrol officers alongside members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), including trained crisis negotiators, attended a multi-unit residential building in the 200-block of Michigan Street for report of a stabbing inside one of the residences on March 12. Upon arrival, the victim was found outside the building with non-life-threatening injuries, while the suspect barricaded herself in the suite. Extensive efforts to resolve the incident occurred throughout the night, while officers secured the area and advised neighbours to shelter in place. Over eight hours later, the suspect was still non-compliant and a warrant to enter the property was granted by a Judicial Justice. GVERT members breached the door to the residence and arrested the suspect without incident. 

24-10673: Proactive patrols and intelligence received by plainclothes officers led to the arrest of a 65-year-old male on March 28, after he committed an indecent act on a BC Transit bus while seated next to a 12-year-old girl. The accused, Timothy Bush, was charged with Committing an Indecent Act and Exposing Genitalia to a Minor. VicPD reaffirmed its stance to believe all victims of sexualized violence or indecent acts and support those that have the immense amount of courage to come forward.   

Traffic Safety and Enforcement

Q1 saw continued efforts by our Traffic Section to focus on community safety. They conducted proactive work in the following three areas: impaired driving, school zone education/enforcement, and high visibility at a number of intersections and locations which have been of concern to community members.