Burnaby RCMP Investigate Gunpoint Confinement and Robbery of Sex Worker
Lucas Tremblay
8/20/20262 min read
Burnaby RCMP are investigating after a sex worker was allegedly forcibly confined and robbed at gunpoint inside a North Burnaby residence.
Police said the incident happened Aug. 15 and involved two male suspects.
The victim was restrained during the encounter but was not physically injured, according to RCMP.
“This was a terrifying situation for the victim, and we want to ensure the community is aware of this incident, particularly those engaged in sex work,” said Sgt. Kyle Kifferling with the Burnaby RCMP Investigative Support Team.
Kifferling said the detachment’s Victim Services Unit is assisting the victim while investigators work to identify and arrest the suspects.
Advocates Call Incident Deeply Concerning
Sex worker advocacy organizations say the case reflects broader concerns about violence and safety within the community.
Crystal Laderas, communications manager with non-profit organization SWAN Vancouver, described the incident as disturbing.
“I can't imagine what that person is going through,” Laderas said.
“Everybody should be able to do their job and not face this kind of violence, no matter what kind of work that they do.”
Laderas said robberies and other forms of violence are reported frequently within the community, although many incidents may never be brought to police.
SWAN Vancouver is working on an abuser alert related to the Burnaby case in an effort to warn other sex workers.
“This is something that is one of the most common crimes among our community,” she said.
Some Victims May Be Reluctant to Contact Police
Laderas said sex workers can face circumstances that make them hesitant to report violence.
Some may be migrants who fear immigration consequences or deportation if they interact with law enforcement, she said.
She also argued that police should contact sex worker advocacy organizations directly when attempting to warn members of the community about potential threats.
“Unfortunately, the first time that we heard about this incident is through media reports,” Laderas said.
Researcher Says Laws Can Create Safety Barriers
Cecilia Benoit, a sociology professor at the University of Victoria, said Canada’s legal framework surrounding sex work can make it more difficult for workers to seek assistance.
The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, introduced in 2014, criminalizes purchasing sexual services while providing immunity from prosecution to people who sell them.
“It does not condemn sex workers, and they're allowed to practise their work [but] the clients are criminalized, as well as other aspects around sex work,” Benoit said.
“The law itself creates barriers for sex workers' safety and for them to reach out when they're in trouble.”
Benoit said sex workers can find themselves in a complicated position because they may depend on police for protection while also interacting with officers responsible for enforcing laws surrounding the industry.
“It's a contradiction,” she said.
Concerns Over Reduced Community Support
Benoit also pointed to reductions in community-based support available to sex workers.
In April, the City of Vancouver eliminated one of its two sex worker safety planner positions.
At the time, the city said some duties associated with the position had evolved and were now being handled by other municipal departments.
Benoit said reductions in specialized support can leave sex workers with fewer alternatives when seeking assistance outside the police system.
“So the possibilities for sex workers to be able to support each other and also to get services apart directly from the police have been curtailed or reduced,” she said.
“That leaves them in a very difficult situation when they are confronted with people wanting to try to rob them or to hurt them.”
Burnaby RCMP say the investigation remains ongoing as officers work to identify the two suspects.
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