Shooters target homes in Surrey, B.C., with police linking one attack to extortion

Police in Surrey, B.C., are investigating after two homes were shot at this week, with one believed to be linked to extortion. 

Surrey Police say officers were called to the Cloverdale area at about 4:25 a.m. on Wednesday after shots were reportedly fired at the residence and a parked vehicle.

They say several bullet casings were found in front of the home, but no one inside was injured.

The Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit is taking over with the investigation into the shooting, which is thought to be extortion-related.

Police had earlier said they were investigating three shootings at a different home in the 11000-block of 140A Street in the Guildford neighbourhood, in the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 27 and 28.

However, no one was hurt and investigators say the shootings are not likely linked to gang activity or recent cases of extortion that have targeted the South Asian community.

Police are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage related to any of the shootings to contact investigators.

Surrey's South Asian community has been targeted by a wave of extortion incidents, with Mayor Brenda Locke recently calling for the federal government to step in to keep residents safe from "international thugs and criminals."

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck