Vancouver's top cop is reporting a 700 per cent spike in violent shoplifting across the city compared to pre-pandemic stats for 2019. Chief Adam Palmer says 844 cases have been recorded so far this year and he expects that number to top a thousand by January. He says the force has increased foot and bike patrols in an effort to respond faster to calls. Palmer adds that many officers are working a lot of overtime monitoring protests and handling pandemic-related complaints.

In addition, 89.8% (3,884,354) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 84.4% (3,652,493) received their second dose.B.C. is reporting 715 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 200,249 cases in the province.There are 4,965 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 192,819 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 377 individuals are in hospital and 136 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, four new deaths (Northern Health) have been reported, for an overall total of 2,096.Ther

A pedestrian has been killed while walking along Highway 1 near Abbotsford. Police say it happened just before 10 last night when the victim was hit by a westbound transport truck. The unnamed pedestrian was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later. Investigators in Abbotsford are appealing for dashcam video or witnesses who may have seen the pedestrian along the highway in the moments before they were hit. Abbotsford Police Department on Twitter: AbbyPD & #ICARS on scene of fatal collision involving semi & pedestrian on Hwy 1. Hwy 1 closed westbound btwn Sumas Way & McCallu

Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit seized a large amount of drugs, cash and a vehicle during proactive patrols in South Surrey.On October 8, 2021, at 5:00 pm, Community Response Unit (CRU) officers observed what was believed to be a drug trafficking transaction between the driver of a vehicle and a man on foot in the 3000 block of 152 Street. Officers conducted a roadside traffic stop with the vehicle, which lead to both occupants of the vehicle being arrested.Police seized 151 oxycodone pills, 51 morphine pill, and 21 grams of cocaine, which was packaged for street level sale. In addition to

A big wedding celebration in Surrey, BC on Tuesday night, involving a lit ferris wheel, drew onlookers and complaints. The City of Surrey says bylaw officers, along with Surrey RCMP members, were called to a home after receiving multiple noise and traffic complaints from neighbours. Officers found a large ferris wheel on the grounds of the home and what appeared to be a wedding celebration. Bylaw officers issued 15 tickets for parking infractions and also had a number of vehicles towed.

VicPD Community Services Division (CSD) officers, working with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), arrested a man and seized fentanyl, weapons, and cash after an investigation into drug trafficking in Victoria.In early October, CSD officers began an investigation into a suspected drug trafficker operating out of a suite in a multi-unit residential building in the 900-block of Johnson Street. On Friday, October 15th, members of GVERT arrested the suspect in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue. A loud distraction device was utilized in the course of the arrest due to concerns that

B.C. is reporting 696 new cases of COVID-19, including eight epi-linked cases, for a total of 199,534 cases in the province.There are 4,888 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 192,189 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 370 individuals are in hospital and 139 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,092.The new deaths include: Fraser Health: fiveVancouver Coastal Health: one There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at S

Charges against two men have been approved by BC Prosecution Services following a Vancouver Police project to target offenders responsible for catalytic converter thefts."Catalytic converter thefts have become an ongoing problem in Vancouver, costing car owners thousands of dollars in repairs," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. "Over the last seven days, there were 18 reported catalytic converter thefts in Vancouver alone."Beginning in July, VPD’s Property Crime Unit launched a project into two prolific catalytic converter theft suspects who they believed were responsible for numerous repo

Statistics Canada says the cost of living just keeps climbing, with the annual inflation rate reaching 4.4 per cent in September, up three-tenths of a point from its August setting. Economists say the 4.4 per cent jump since September of last year has pushed inflation to its highest level since February 2003, with soaring gas prices and a rebound from last year's pandemic lows blamed for a hefty chunk of the increase. Year-over-year inflation in BC was a little more modest as Stats Can says the September rate in the province didn't budge from its 3.5 per cent setting. Prices in Vancouver edge