CRYSTAL METH USERS TARGET NORTH SHORE

West Vancouver Police have arrested three suspects believed to be part of a
gang of crystal meth addicts responsible for a rash of B-and-E's and auto
thefts in North and West Vancouver in recent months.

On June 15, at approximately 2:15 a.m., WVPD set up surveillance in an area
recently victimized by a string of vehicle break-ins.

Shortly afterward, an officer observed three males in front of an apartment
building who appeared to have just exited the underground parkade wearing
backpacks.

The police officer confronted the three suspicious males and determined
they were not from the area, nor could they explain why they were in this
area at this time of day.

A search of their backpacks revealed break-in tools and vehicle keys.

All three men were arrested for possession of break-in instruments.

A subsequent search of the area located a stolen vehicle nearby.

Two of the suspects also outstanding arrest warrants in other Lower
Mainland municipalities.

"We've arrested them before," said West Vancouver Police Cpl. Tim Dean,
noting that the group has been active and North and West Van, as well as
the Vancouver area.

"They're part of a group from East Van, most of them have no fixed
address." It's believed that the group is made up of 10 to 12 people.

According to RCMP Cpl. Scott Rintoul, crystal meth is the latest - and
perhaps most deadly - designer drug fad. For a user to become addicted, it
only takes a month of occasional use and odds of relapse are 93 per cent.
On June 17, WVPD stopped two suspicious males crossing the Lions Gate
Bridge at 5:20 a.m. on expensive mountain bikes.

The two men were found to be in possession of crystal meth, and it was
later discovered that the bikes had been stolen from the 1,500-block of
Duchess Avenue.

The suspects, 21- and 25-years-old were both from the Downtown Eastside.
"To finance their drug habits we're finding that they're coming over here
to commit crimes," said West Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Bob Fontaine.
"There are better targets here than on the Downtown Eastside."

And according to North Vancouver RCMP Const. Marina Wilks, there has also
been a rash of B-and-E's in North Vancouver attributed to a group of "meth
addicts." "They are transient and mobile," Wilks said.