CRACKDOWN IS MOVING PROBLEM: RESIDENTS

Residents of a quiet Whalley neighbourhood expressed anger and frustration
Wednesday over a firebombing attack that caused $100,000 damage to a home
in the 12800 block of Old Yale Rd. on Monday about 7:25 p.m.

They say the city-hall-ordered crackdown on crime in Whalley has driven
undesirables into their area.

"It's changed the whole tone of this neighbourhood," said one man who has
lived there for more than 20 years.

"I'm finding syringes in our back alley now, which I never found before
this year," the man said.

A woman who has lived there for 26 years said she's angry at the influx of
drug dealing into their streets and back yards.

"It's getting worse," she said.

The residents interviewed by The Leader asked that their names not be
published.

They said the arson attack appears to have been a reprisal for the
homeowner's attempt to combat blatant drug dealing in the area by taking
pictures of a deal in progress in nearby Kwantlen Park.

According to the residents, the homeowner was confronted by a man with a
baseball bat who demanded the photos the day before the fire. Surrey RCMP
would only say the fire appears to have been deliberate, and that a suspect
male was seen fleeing the scene of the fire with a gas "jerry can."

The suspect male passenger, a Caucasian male in his mid-20's was wearing
dark colored pants and a gray sweatshirt at the time of the offense.

Police are reviewing surveillance video tapes from the house security
cameras for further evidence.

The homeowner refused comment Wednesday, saying police have asked him not
to give interviews.

At Leader press time, mayor Doug McCallum had not responded to Leader
requests for comment on the resident's claim that the Central Whalley
crackdown has driven criminals into surrounding neighbourhoods.