Skip to main content

Vancouver Chinatown vandalism suspect arrested amid surge of reported incidents

Improvements from Vancouver’s Chinatown, a target of vandalism and crime, is on city council’s agenda. Improvements from Vancouver’s Chinatown, a target of vandalism and crime, is on city council’s agenda.
Share

Vancouver police say they've arrested a suspect in a spate of vandalism incidents in Chinatown.

The department says in a news release that officers patrolling the neighbourhood arrested a man in his 60s Wednesday afternoon.

The man allegedly wrote graffiti near Abbott and West Pender streets, before tagging a sign near Main and Keefer streets.

Investigators say the investigation is ongoing but also suspect the man is responsible for defacing other properties and landmarks in Chinatown.

Police say the man is expected to appear in court and be formally charged on July 31.

There's been a surge of reported incidents of mischief and vandalism in Chinatown, some involving racist messages, with police saying reports of graffiti are up by 455 per cent since 2019.

VPD Sgt. Steve Addison says there's “no quick fix,” but officers have been listening to residents' and business owners' concerns about violence, disorder and vandalism.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2023.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails

A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.

How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'

The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.

Stay Connected