Vancouver police say they have yet to receive any formal reports of extortion in the city, but that they're hearing from residents and businesses who are fearful as the crime rises in nearby communities.

“It’s affecting people's sense of safety and well-being. It affects them and so it’s important to us," said Supt. Phil Heard, speaking at an anti-extortion community forum organized by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) on Wednesday night.

Extortion is when a person uses intimidation, threats or violence to coerce someone to do — or not do — something. The crime has been on the rise in cities like Surrey, Abbotsford and Delta, where people in predominantly South Asian communities are receiving threats and demands for money.

There have been more than 100 incidents across those three c

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