British ColumbiaA car wash in the area of 128 Street and 84 Avenue in Surrey, B.C., was shot at late Monday night, and the business owner says he was first threatened with extortion and then burgled.Police say the business was closed and no employees were on scene at the time of the shootingCBC News · Posted: Aug 20, 2025 10:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoSurrey police say 1313 Car Wash was shot at on Monday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)A Surrey, B.C, car wash was shot at late Monday night, and the owner says he was first threatened with extortion and then burgled.The Surrey Police Service (SPS) said officers were on patrol and discovered bullet holes in the front of 1313 Car Wash, in the area of 128 Street and 84 Avenue, around 11 p.m. PT on Monday.”The business was closed, and no employees were on scene at the time of the incident,” an SPS spokesperson said in an emailed statement.Lovepreet Singh, owner of 1313 Car Wash, said he was also the victim of theft — alleging he lost between $15,000 and $20,000 in supplies, including chemicals, expensive polishes, and equipment like a pressure washer and carpet extractor.”They took everything from my shop,” Singh said.Lovepreet Singh, the owner of 1313 Car Wash, says he’s been left in a tough spot after the shooting. (Sohrab Sandhu/CBC)Before the shooting, Singh said he was threatened over a WhatsApp call from someone trying to extort $50,000 from him.”They just called me so many times. And after that, I didn’t answer them because they were asking [for] money — and they know my address.”Police say that the alleged extortion attempt was reported to them. (Ben Nelms/CBC)Singh said he started his business about two and a half years ago, adding that the alleged shooting and theft has made for a very difficult time.”I’m not the big businessman, like, I’m not a millionaire. I have a local family … so I need to take care of them and take care of my employees,” he said.Police confirmed to CBC News that the alleged extortion attempt was reported to them, and that some items were allegedly stolen from the location.A spokesperson added that they couldn’t confirm which items were taken in particular, and the matter was under investigation.1313 Car Wash is pictured with its front glass shattered after the alleged shooting. (Ben Nelms/CBC)Extortion a significant issue: professorGurpreet Singh Johal, a criminology instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, said extortion is a significant issue for the South Asian community all over Canada.”For the communities, there is a real anxiety, fear, about how … they should proceed for their own personal safety and well-being, as well as their family members,” the professor said.Johal said he’s unsure if the number of extortions have increased recently, as much as the attention paid to the issue has.Surrey Coun. Linda Annis, who is also executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, said Surrey residents are afraid.She said people who receive extortion threats need to report them.”Unless people are reporting, it’s very difficult for the police to do anything,” she said.Annis also recommended calling Crime Stoppers, which she said protects the anonymity of those submitting a report.WATCH | B.C. sets up public awareness campaign over extortion threats: B.C. commits $100K to extortion awareness campaign. Is it enough?The B.C. government is giving $100,000 to Crimestoppers to run an extortion awareness campaign as members of the South Asian community face a growing number of threats. But not everyone believes it’s enough. Surrey business owner Jay Minhas told The Early Edition’s Stephen Quinn the money feels like a drop in the bucket.The B.C. government has set up a new public awareness campaign to target the growing number of extortion attempts against the South Asian community, particularly in Surrey.In 2024, the RCMP established a national team to co-ordinate investigations and information sharing about extortion schemes targeting South Asian businesses in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.The Crime Stoppers line, for those looking to file a report, can be reached at 1-800-222-8477.With files from Shaurya Kshatri, Sohrab Sandhu, Lauren Vanderdeen and The Canadian Press
Shots fired at Surrey, B.C., car wash after extortion threats, owner says
