Burnaby RCMP has arrested four Lower Mainland residents for allegedly attempting to extort a Burnaby resident earlier this month.
The victim, a 50-year-old man, was approached by four men in a parking garage in the 4400-block of Lougheed Highway on March 7.
The victim and the suspects were unknown to each other, according to police, but investigators believe the incident was targeted.
The victim immediately reported the encounter to the Burnaby RCMP, and the serious crime unit undertook a large-scale investigation.
On March 11, 2017, four Lower Mainland residents were arrested with help from the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
Vancouver residents Xiao He, 56, Keith Chen, 28, Darren Johnson, 43, and Surrey resident Timothy Thurston, 42, face charges of extortion and will make their next court appearance on April 13 in Vancouver Provincial Court.
"The Police take such threats to families in our community seriously," Chief Superintendent Stephan Drolet stated in a press release. "This was deemed a priority investigation. Our serious crime unit led a large scale operation involving several officers. The intended victim and his family are safe and unharmed."
