Surrey Mounties recently nabbed two men in Cloverdale in connection with an ongoing extortion investigation.
Now Mounties are reaching out to ask the public to help identify a “vehicle of interest” used in a crime in White Rock at the beginning of December also in connection to the extortion case.
“We believe this vehicle was used during an incident in White Rock on Dec. 4, 2023 at 12:09 a.m. in which shots were fired at a residence in the 13900-block of Marine Drive,” revealed Sergeant Derek Bonner of the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit (SCU).
The SCU also released a photo of the vehicle in an effort to help advance the investigation and Bonner asked if anyone recognizes the vehicle to contact police.
They are describing the car as a white Audi e-tron, built somewhere between the years of 2019 and 2023.
As for the two men, Surrey RCMP arrested them in a residential area in Cloverdale Dec. 28. The men, both from Surrey and both in their 20s, were taken to the the Surrey RCMP Detachment, but were later released.
“Surrey RCMP has a dedicated team of investigators who have been working around the clock on this investigation,” added Bonner, calling the two arrests “a significant development” in the ongoing extortion case.
SEE ALSO: Surrey RCMP issue warning after business extortion attempts surface
In November, 2023, Abbotsford Police, Surrey RCMP, and the Vancouver Police Department received reports, or heard rumours on social media and radio stations, about business owners receiving extortion threats.
Since then Surrey RCMP have been encouraging business owners to report any incidents of attempted extortion, after such threats surfaced in those three Lower Mainland communities.
Bonner urged any business owners who have been threatened to call their local police department.
“If you are targeted in an extortion attempt, do not engage with the suspect and do not send any money, instead contact local police immediately.”
Bonner asked if anyone has any info to contact Surrey RCMP on 604-599-0502. He noted if anyone wishes to remain anonymous, to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or via solvecrime.ca.
—with files from Tricia Weel.