Great, proactive work by three officers from Burnaby RCMP’s Community Response Team (CRT) has resulted in a number of weapons being taken off the streets and disruption to potential criminal activity in Burnaby.
On Friday January 3, 2020, at 5 p.m., CRT officers on patrol stopped a vehicle they had observed speeding at Marine Drive and Strathearn Avenue with multiple occupants.
During their investigation one of the occupants advised police that he was carrying a knife. A subsequent detention and search of the three men resulted in officers locating a knife and a can of bear spray. With no bears in the area, the three men relinquished the weapons and were released from the scene.
45 minutes later, at 5:45 p.m., CRT officers observed a vehicle that they believed was being used for drug trafficking in the area of Beresford Street and McKay Avenue.
Based on the behaviour of the driver and those approaching the vehicle, officers conducted an investigation and while no drugs were located, officers did locate evidence associated with a dial-a-dope trafficking operation and also two folding knives. Officers seized the two knives and the driver was released at scene.
One hour later, just before 7 p.m., CRT officers stopped a vehicle that was speeding on Kingsway Avenue and Russell Avenue. A check of the vehicle revealed that the owner had a history of committing break and enters.
As police approached, both male occupants got out of the vehicle and one of them was observed to have a knife in the waistband of his pants. A search was conducted on the men and an airsoft replica pistol was also found. Both weapons were seized by officers and the two men were released at scene.
The proactive work done by our Community Response Team officers is instrumental in disrupting criminal activity in Burnaby, says Inspector Kathy Hartwig with Burnaby RCMP.
In just two hours, our officers took dangerous weapons off our streets and ensured that known criminals were aware of how proactive the Burnaby RCMP Community Response Team is in ensuring our City is kept safe.