Richmond’s large immigrant population and an increasingly crowded Canada Line makes the train a good “hunting grounds” for predators, Transit Police warn.
“A lot of ESL students use the transit system and lots of predators recognize this. Because English is not the students’ first language or there are cultural issues related to sex assaults — perhaps loss of face and family issues — they’re reluctant to report these incidences,” said spokesperson Const. Anne Drennan.
On Friday Drennan issued a public plea for a young Asian woman to come forward and speak to police regarding an alleged sexual assault she may have been a victim of Thursday morning.
Richmond resident Kathy Yu, who was riding the train from Brighouse station that day to catch a bus to UBC, made the alleged groping incident public on a University of B.C. Facebook forum.
Yu said she saw a middle aged Asian man wearing a green army camouflage jacket and blue jeans rubbing his hand against the Asian woman, believed to be age 18-25.
“I saw her moving away from him, I could tell that she was visibly uncomfortable. I took a picture of him touching her and talked to the police right after I got off the (Canada Line) at Bridgeport,” wrote Yu on Facebook, where she posted the photo.
What Yu witnessed is now the subject of a police investigation that may now be linked to other assaults at UBC.
Yu said she stepped off the train alongside the suspect, who was then questioned by police, who also took the man’s information.
Yu also asked for the alleged victim to come forward.
“To the girl: Please don’t ignore this issue, we should not condone his actions. I know you were scared to speak up, I hope you’re okay,” wrote Yu.
Hundreds of people praised Yu for going to the police and bringing the problem to the public's attention.
Const. Anne Drennan said sexual assaults on transit are not infrequent — the Transit Police detachment recorded 146 incidents last year.
“Predators tend to see the transit system as good hunting grounds. And that includes the Canada Line because there are so many people who use the system and it allows them to sit or stand close to others,” said Drennan.
Also worrisome is the low rate of reporting; Drennan said police believe just 10 per cent of all sexual assaults are reported.
She said she’s particularly worried about international students and new residents given their limited resources in a new society.
“We know they are very reluctant. We encounter this often,” said Drennan.
“A predator may grope three or four women in one train, perhaps young Asian students. And none of them report even though we have a witness,” she added.
Drennan noted the suspect is now being investigated and he may be linked to another sexual assault at UBC last month.
“Because his description is similar to that of the UBC assault, we called UBC (RCMP) detachment and have been liaising since to see if there’s a link. We haven’t been able to determine anything just yet,” she said.
Doug Purdie, chair of S.U.C.C.E.S.S, an immigrant services organization, downplayed Drennan’s concerns.
“I don’t think you can stereotype the issue into a cultural nuance,” he said.
“The issue is an issue related to all women,” said Purdie, however, “clearly if you have language issues… you’re inherently more reluctant to communicate.”
People who witness such incidences or any other crimes can call Transit Police at 604-515-8300 or text to 87-77-77. For frequent transit users a mobile application is available.
