Evidence Swap at Vancouver Police Vault Raises Questions for Public Safety and Property Stakeholders
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A long-running gang murder investigation has revealed that two seized BlackBerry phones were swapped while in the Vancouver Police evidence vault. The revelations raise concerns about chain-of-custody, public trust in policing and practical implications for property owners, renters and investors in BC.
An ongoing, multi-year gang probe connected to a 2012 downtown Vancouver murder has taken a new turn after court filings revealed two BlackBerry phones kept in the Vancouver Police evidence vault were replaced with different devices.
The shooting occurred in January 2012 at the Wall Centre restaurant, where Sandip Duhre was killed. The shooter, Dean Wiwchar, later pleaded guilty and received a lengthy prison sentence. Investigators seized three BlackBerrys from associates arrested in Montreal at the time. Those devices were catalogued and shipped to Vancouver for storage and court use.
Documents filed in court show that nearly a decade after seizure the serial numbers on two of the phones did not match the records when they were produced at a 2022 hearing. Forensic checks indicated the replacement phones had been wiped in June 2021. One of the substituted devices contained a French-language note that, according to court testimony, describes planting devices containing forged communications.
Prosecutors have treated some of the handwritten material as likely fabrication, but the lead investigator on the case told the court in a sworn affidavit that completing such a swap inside the evidence vault would probably require inside assistance. The evidence storage area is in an east Vancouver facility that doubles as a training centre, and access to the deeper storage racks is typically limited to staff with authorised access.
Police say they have reviewed months of surveillance footage, examined phone and call records, executed multiple search warrants and administered polygraph tests to clerical personnel responsible for evidence handling. Investigators say those enquiries have not produced conclusive proof pointing to a specific suspect within the force. The case also draws on a related 2018 incident in which another seized BlackBerry briefly went missing and associated files were declared lost and later recovered.
The revelations have reverberated beyond the courtroom. One of the people implicated in the wider investigation escaped custody in a dramatic 2022 breakout staged by individuals posing as construction workers; he was later arrested overseas and has been convicted in absentia on related murder charges. The cumulative picture has prompted questions in public and legal circles about the integrity of evidence handling and broader gaps in security.
For residents, property owners and investors in British Columbia, the story is more than a criminal case headline. It touches on everyday concerns about safety, the reliability of policing institutions, and the risk environment in which homes and businesses operate. The notion that high-profile criminal evidence could be tampered with while in official custody undermines confidence in prosecutions and, by extension, the deterrent effect of law enforcement.
What this means in BC
Chain-of-custody problems can weaken prosecutions, which may allow dangerous individuals to remain at large longer—something that matters to anyone who lives, works or invests in our communities.
Landlords and property managers should be mindful of security when contractors are on site: insist on identification, supervise access to suites and common areas, and keep detailed logs of who enters a building for maintenance or construction work.
Renters and homeowners can reduce risk by installing or maintaining quality locks, using camera systems in common areas where permitted, and reporting suspicious behaviour promptly to police and strata/property managers.
Investors and businesses should factor public-safety and institutional confidence into risk assessments. Where local policing procedures appear under scrutiny, consider increased private security measures for higher‑risk properties or during showings and renovations.
Finally, the episode highlights the importance of transparent, well-documented processes in public institutions. Citizens and market participants benefit when law enforcement and evidence-management systems are rigorously audited and accountable.
