North Vancouver police are investigating a series of assaults involving people who arranged meetings through the Grindr dating app, prompting a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group to issue a safety warning.
According to the RCMP, victims were allegedly lured to meeting locations through the app before being confronted by groups of young people. Police said the victims were assaulted, threatened and had their vehicles damaged. Investigators believe the suspects are between 16 and 20 years old.
Two incidents were initially reported to police. The first occurred on Aug. 27 at Eldon Park, followed by another on Aug. 29 near Ross Road Elementary School. After examining security footage, investigators identified a third incident at Lynn Valley Elementary School on Aug. 31 and are asking that victim to contact police.
Authorities believe the three cases are connected. The incidents have caused concern within the local 2SLGBTQ+ community because Grindr is widely used by LGBTQ+ people.
The North Shore Pride Alliance responded by issuing a safety alert. While police have not identified a motive, alliance co-founder Chris Bolton expressed concern that growing intolerance online and elsewhere could be contributing to such attacks.
Bolton said people should not necessarily stop using Grindr but should take additional precautions when arranging meetings. He recommended informing a trusted friend, selecting public meeting locations and using a video call beforehand to verify the other person’s identity.
The North Vancouver RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit is leading the investigation. Police are also asking anyone with information, suspicious activity reports or relevant video footage from the locations and dates to come forward.
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