Surrey Vehicle Fire Leads to Arson Charges
Two men have been charged following a vehicle fire in Surrey on Sunday, Oct. 5, in a case now overseen by B.C.’s extortion task force. Harmanjot Brar, 25, and Hardilpreet Singh, 23, face arson and possession of stolen property charges connected to the Newton-area incident.
Early Morning Fire in Newton
Around 5 a.m., the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operational Support Unit (SPOSU) responded to reports of a vehicle set ablaze in the 15000-block of 81B Avenue. The suspects reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Coordinated Police Efforts
Police credited the swift collaboration among SPOSU, Surrey Police Service, and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) with identifying a residence linked to the suspects. The Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team and the Integrated Police Dog Service assisted in taking multiple individuals associated with the residence into custody. All others have since been released pending further investigation.
Chief Superintendent Duncan Pound, Lower Mainland assistant district commander, emphasized the impact of coordinated efforts: “The collaborative work of the JFO, SPOSU, SPS, IPDS, and IERT directly led to locating, arresting, and charging these two men. We encourage anyone with information or who has been a victim of extortion to contact local police.”
Extortion Task Force Continues Investigation
The joint extortion task force includes officers from the B.C. RCMP, Abbotsford Police, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – B.C. (CFSEU-BC), Delta Police, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Surrey Police Service, and the Canada Border Services Agency. The group continues to investigate extortion-related crimes across B.C. and is working closely with partner agencies to gather information.
Members of the public with tips are urged to reach out to their local police or provide information through appropriate reporting channels.
