Usually known as a haven for multi-million-dollar homes by the ocean, West Vancouver is quickly becoming a favourite place for the city's big gangs, police say.
And police are fighting back with new strategies to roust moneyed gangsters from the high-end restaurants in the area.
"Some of the gang members were being seen in clubs, restaurants and lounges on the North Shore," said West Vancouver Police Const. Jeff Palmer.
"Gang members are not welcome in West Vancouver," said Palmer.
Half a dozen restaurants have welcomed police in at any time to remove gang members and their associates, including establishments like the Cactus Club, Steamworks, and the Ocean Club.
In all, 20 thugs have been bounced in the past six months.
Restaurant owners are nervous about the damage a gang shooting could have on the reputation of their businesses.
"A couple of the worst instances have happened in restaurants in the past couple of years," said Dave Kershaw, the owner of the Ocean Club.
In January, two people were killed right outside Gotham Steakhouse in Downtown Vancouver.
A few months earlier, at a high-end Italian eatery Quattro, bullets shot right through the window.
After that, Vancouver Police formed a task force to target places where gangsters like to eat.
Officers say it wasn't hard to find them, and often they weren't carrying weapons. That's what prompted police in West Vancouver to adopt a similar strategy.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington
