Refuse service to gangsters: Abbotsford police tell local business

Abbotsford business are being urged by police to refuse service to known gang members after a series of shootings in the Fraser Valley farming community earlier this month.

Police Chief Const.Bob Rich told a crowd of more than 500 people packed into a community auditorium Monday night that police were already approaching business owners for help.

"It's restaurants. It's bars. It's workout facilities, gyms and spas car rental agencies. These people are all using leased and rented cars. We need to stop that. We need to ask them not to rent cars to these people," said Rich.

The crowd also heard from Abbotsford businessman Paul Esposito, who told the crowd how his three businesses were destroyed by arson about four years ago,

Police eventually linked the arson attacks to a local gun-running operation, leading to the arrest and conviction of several men.

'Take back our community'

Esposito told the crowd that business owners should refuse service not just to gangsters but also to their families.

"They don't have to refuse service just to the criminal entrepreneur, but they can have the balls and the guts to stand up and say, 'You, madam, are the mother; you, sir, are the father they are your responsibility. We refuse you as a family'," said Esposito.

"We have to take our community back; we have to make our streets safe and sound."

Abbotsford Mayor George Peary said he also wants businesses to refuse service to gangsters.

Peary said he was also working on a far-reaching crime reduction strategy including a bar-watch program similar to one already used in Vancouver, and invited residents to join a task force on crime.

Escalating violence

The community forum was organized by police andcity hall as a response to the escalating levels of violent crime tied to organized criminal gangs in Abbotsford.

Already this year there have been several shootings, including one that occurred in broad daylight on a busy street.

Two weeks ago, someone opened fire on a black Mercedes during rush hour.

Police said the driver of the Mercedes, who was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the incident, was not hurt.

The target in that shooting was reportedly Jamie Bacon, one of three Abbotsford brothers who are alleged gang membersfacing numerous charges.

Police have warned residents that associating with the brothers could be dangerous.