Vancouver Police are encouraging construction companies to take extra precautions to prevent crime, following a spike in thefts on the city’s west side. "As lumber prices have continued to rise, VPD has seen a significant increase in break and enters to construction sites this year," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "In many cases, the thieves have made off with thousands of dollars in plywood and other building materials. We’re encouraging site managers to take precautions to avoid future thefts." The most recent theft was reported May 10 at a construction site in Kerrisdale, when three

Patrol officers arrested a man after he stabbed a loss prevention officer (LPO) at a Victoria mall yesterday evening.Shortly before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18th, Patrol officers were called to a mall in the 1600-block of Hillside Avenue for a report that an LPO was in a struggle with a theft suspect. As officers were on their way to the call they learned that the LPO had been stabbed by the suspect while apprehending him for theft. After apprehending the suspect, the LPO recognized the extent of his injuries and applied a makeshift tourniquet on himself.Officers arrived and took custody of the

Two men found dead near a small community in British Columbia's southern Interior last week were brothers and police say they are hoping the public can help in solving the homicides.The RCMP say they are releasing the names of 29-year-old Erick Fryer and 31-year-old Carlos Fryer in an effort to help their investigation.They say the bodies of the two men from Kamloops, B.C., were found by a couple walking in a remote area around Naramata Creek north of Penticton. Investigators believe the "unexpected deaths" were isolated and not a random act.Police say they have not uncovered any information

British Columbia health officials say second doses of COVID-19 vaccines may be given sooner than previously expected. The province says officials are closely monitoring the supply of vaccines and more information will be released in early June. In a statement, the province says with a large and steady vaccine supply after most people have had their first jab, officials will be able to consider how they might be able to accelerate the delivery of second shots. The province implemented a four-month gap between doses in order to get more people vaccinated with their first shot. B.C. reported 411

For the second time in two days, a police agency in British Columbia has issued a public safety warning about potential gang violence. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit named 11 men ranging in age from 21 to 40 who are allegedly connected to an ongoing spike in gang conflict and violence in the province's Lower Mainland. Manny Mann, the chief officer of the special enforcement unit, says the warning follows a similar decision by the Vancouver Police Department on Monday to publicly name six alleged gang members. Three of the men listed in the warning by the anti-gang unit were also

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is aligning the Emergency Program Act (EPA) order on face coverings with the provincial health officer’s (PHO) recently updated guidance on mask use in fitness facilities. As outlined in the PHO’s indoor individual exercise document, masks are now required to be worn at all times in fitness facilities, including during workouts. The change to the EPA order allows police and other officials to enforce this new guidance at their discretion.This updated ministerial order on masks ensures a co-ordinated response to COVID-19. For

Victoria police are looking for the Good Samaritan who was attacked while trying to help a youth in the city's downtown area. Police say it happened last Monday night when the teen was assaulted by two other people. Officers were called to reports of four people fighting and arrived to find only the youth, who was taken to hospital for treatment, but a check of surveillance videos shows the fourth person was a bystander who stepped in to help the young victim. The Good Samaritan was kicked, punched and hit with a skateboard and police are appealing for any witnesses to the assault as they exp

In response to concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of British Columbians, the BC Coroners Service has released preliminary data confirming there has been no increase in the number of lives lost to suicide sincethe pandemic was declared last year. From April 2020 to February 2021, there were 534 confirmed deaths by suicide in the province, 12% fewer than reported between April 2019 and February 2020. A total of 609 deaths by suicide were reported in the 2020 calendar year, an average of approximately 51 per month. That figure is consistent with the number rec

A former British Columbia government cabinet minister who left politics almost a decade ago to work in the private sector says he's entering the Liberal party's leadership contest.Kevin Falcon announced his leadership bid Monday, saying he wants to rebuild, renew and rename B.C.'s Liberal Party, which has lost its way since the 2017 election.Falcon is the third candidate to enter the Feb. 5, 2022 leadership race, joining Ellis Ross, the Liberal member of the legislature for Skeena, and Gavin Dew, a Vancouver entrepreneur and former Liberal byelection candidate. Liberal transportation critic M