The Province June 21, 2011 – Identifying looters and going after them in civil lawsuits is another way to “take back the heart of Vancouver,” says London Drugs president Wynn Powell.
“This is a sad moment in the history of Vancouver and our store was in the epicentre of the riot along with The Bay but I’m most thankful not to have to call husbands, wives or family about injured staff members,” said Powell.
Powell said London Drugs has about 200 “very sharp, very clear colour high-definition images” of the people who pillaged the store for cameras, laptops and electronics, as well as pharmaceuticals, make-up and even candy bars.
“We will be going after these people in civil suits, absolutely. We have good evidence.”
The videos show well-dressed men, purposeful women, a few masked “criminals” as well as youth in hockey jerseys, he said. Most are identifiable.
“The police were very happy to see our images and we’ll co-operate with them fully but we’ll contract that out (civil litigation) with two professional outfits who do that as a matter of course.”
Powell said that civil suits are key to “the next chapter of making Vancouver safe for Vancouverites, taking back the heart of the city.”
Litigation may not “retrieve the money but win or lose, those people will have to take time to attend court, they will be served at work and at home.”
London Drugs sustained losses of up to $500,000 from 200,000 items stolen.
ICBC spokesman Adam Grossman said about 100 vehicles were damaged in the June 15 riot, including 17 that were torched. There are many “total losses” as well as windshield and body damage that can be repaired, said Grossman, “but the good news is that all those people had comprehensive insurance.”
Grossman said ICBC will also sue the perpetrators of damage to vehicles.
“We’ll help police but then if ICBC can recover some losses by suing those who caused the damage, it won’t impact insurance rates for everyone else.”
Meanwhile, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association has released a Google map of about 50 businesses impacted by the riot .
Director Charles Gauthier said the public can help by joining the “Vanlover” Facebook campaign and by shopping at affected businesses, not all of whom had enough insurance to cover losses.
Gauthier said larger businesses may have the resources to launch civil suits but smaller ones will be struggling just to survive.
sfournier@theprovince.com
I already shop at London Drugs for camera equipment but after hearing this news I intend to support London Drugs ALL THE MORE and then double that for any rioter or even simple trespassers they prosecute to the maximum. Maximum. I hope it is relentless unapologetic charges and civil suits and if the cost raises the price of my next Nikon a two bucks then I'm going to pay that AND donate another 2 dollars to the cause.