Reprinted from Binbo Hima Ari Vancouver Free and Easy Guide 2004 Edition

On a Monday evening in May, two years ago, a Korean woman, Ji-Won Park, decided to go for a jog in Stanley Park. She was young, just 21, and far from home. She chose to study English in Vancouver because it had a reputation as a safe city. She was enjoying her youth and her freedom and had just started studying that very day at a school called Robson College. She was enjoying her run, too, deep in the forest at the dark heart of Stanley Park when she stopped to adjust her headphones. In an instant, all her dreams and the promise of her youth were shattered forever.

Unprovoked attack
Also in the park that evening was Robert Wallin, a deeply-troubled 26-year-old man with a long history of psychiatric problems. For no apparent reason, Wallin attacked Ms. Park from behind, strangling her first with her Walkman cord, then with his bare hands. A passing cyclist managed to scare Wallin off, chase him down and capture him but not before Ms. Park had sustained massive brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. The heroic cyclist also performed the CPR which restored her breathing. She was in a coma for 4 days before regaining consciousness.

Lifetime of Pain
Today Ji-Won Park is still in Vancouver. She is conscious and can hear and understand some things but she cannot walk, speak or see. She can smile and cry and signal yes or no by raising or lowering her arm. She is also in constant pain and will be for the rest of her life. Her mother and brother have moved to Vancouver to care for her and she is being supported by a special provincial government program aimed at providing victim relief.

Asians Victimized
Ji-Won Park's tragic story is an extreme example of the kinds of victimization visiting students face every day. When contacted by Binbo Hima Ari, Mr. Takeo Yamashiro, Executive Director of the Vancouver Tonari Gumi, said he didn't think Japanese visitors were being specifically targeted, but added "I think we can say that there are lots of victims among Asian young students." Mr Yamashiro said the main reason Asians are targeted is that most Asian countries are still cash cultures. "They normally carry cash with them and there is an unfamiliarity with the culture here even though Japan is very westernized." In particular, he thought it was difficult for Japanese young people to refuse directly even when someone makes an unusual request. Of course in the same situation most Canadians would just say "No" and walk away.

Hard Luck Story
A student we know from Yokohama fell for classic scam known as the cheque exchange. He was watching some kids play football in East Vancouver when a Canadian guy approached. They chatted for a while, became comfortable with each other and then the guy told a hard luck story about how his bank card wasn't working and he needed a great deal of cash but he couldn't make a withdrawal until banks opened on Monday. Then he had an idea. The guy suggested that they exchange some cash for a cheque. Come Monday morning the Japanese student discovered that a cheque is only a piece of paper, a promise to pay based on trust. He also learned that you shouldn't trust a total stranger, a lesson that cost $500.

A running gun battle through the streets of Vancouver's West End -- where many Educational Tourists from Japan reside -- left three men wounded in 2003. Though rare, such incidents are growing and create a perception of violence which visitors take home.
Brian Grover Photo

The Crying Game
There are many variations on the hard luck story. Often someone says they are far from home and their car broke down or someone stole their wallet and in some cases they even start crying. They are good actors but they are not good people yet hundreds of Japanese visitors have handed over 40 or 50 dollars on the spot. Maybe it's true, Japan can't say no.

Alarm Bells
If someone starts talking about money, your money, alarm bells should go off. If that person is a stranger, then the bells should be ringing louder. If that person is a new boyfriend then they are still a stranger and it's OK to say no. If that spoils the romance then there was no romance anyway. That's common sense.

Money in the Bank
The Tonari Gumi's, Yamashiro has some specific advice for new arrivals. "First of all put the money in the bank. Also don't do your shopping with cash. Use a card, debit or credit or whatever, because if you do carry cash around that becomes a target too."

Common Sense
Common sense is vital according to Adolfo Wainberg Operations Co-coordinator of the Vancouver Police Department ESL Crime Prevention Program. "The most important thing students can develop is common sense," Wainberg stressed, "if it doesn't sound right then it isn't right, if it doesn't look right then it isn't right. That's common sense."

Isolation
Besides lacking good judgment, Wainberg said students tend to listen too closely when someone speaks to them in English. "Criminals find out that students are easier to victimize than we are because they have a language barrier. If anyone approaches them they pay attention because, you know, they are learning the language." He also criticized the tendency of students to stick together in their own cultural groups. Doing so, Wainberg explained, prevents them from getting valuable experience in Canadian society. "If something happens they don't know what to do."

Manual Labour
The Vancouver Police Department has thrown considerable resources at the growing problem of visitor victimization. The six employees of the ESL Crime Prevention Program have identified the education of visiting students as the key to eliminating this kind of crime. Toward that end, they have enlisted the support of schools and teachers to help create a manual of safety tips for ESL students and distribute that manual through the classroom.

Backpacks
Wainberg said that the most commonly reported crime was stolen backpacks. The Vancouver Public Library, coffee shops and watering holes popular with students and the working holiday crowd are known to attract the light-fingered who surreptitiously open backpacks up and empty them of their contents while students are engrossed in conversation.

Scaming Tutors
The library is also notorious for the "tutor scam". That is, sleazy guys who cruise around the library looking for Japanese and other Asian young women and pretend to be English tutors. They aren't. Neither are they really looking for a language exchange. Countless women are assaulted or raped each year because they trust these guys, exchange phone numbers and then meet for a "lesson". You do not get into a car with someone you just met. You do not go to the apartment of someone you hardly know. That is common sense. If someone seems overly friendly then, chances are, it isn't friendliness at all.

Decoy
To counter this trend, volunteers from the VPD ESL Crime Prevention Program have taken a novel approach. They have also started cruising the library, chatting up ESL students, then, when they take the bait, reveal their identity and try to explain the reality of "tutoring".

Date Rape Drug
Sleazy guys are not limited to the library but can be found just about anywhere. A particularly heinous crime that has been increasing in recent years is the use of the date rape drug, Rohypnol. There have been numerous reports of men dropping "Roofies", as it is called on the street, into women's drinks while they are away from their table dancing or visiting the washroom. The next thing they know is morning has arrived, they've been sexually assaulted and they have no memory of the night before.

Watch Your Drinks
The Vancouver Police Department recommends that if someone sends drinks to your table or offers to buy you a drink, politely refuse. They further suggest that you never leave drinks unattended and take turns watching the drinks when otherwise occupied.

Rental Scams
Mr. Yamashiro, of the Vancouver Tonari Gumi, told Binbo Hima Ari that for many reasons renting an apartment is fraught with pitfalls. "There are a lot of victims in the landlord and tenant situation." He cited disputes over security deposits, and cash payments as just some of the dangers. "There are, actually, managers who demand cash payment but never issue a receipt. I would just like to say that whenever you deal in cash, always get a receipt." Using cheques, of course, whenever large sums of money are involved is the wisest course.

Promises, Promises
Another common trap that students fall into is returning to Japan without getting the deposit settled first. Managers often promise to send the deposit through the usual accounting channels in a couple weeks but of course that cheque never shows up. Avoid telling the manager that you are going back to your country. Instead have the cheque sent to the address of a former homestay family or a friend in Vancouver as if it were your next residence. That way they can expect to be confronted if they try ripping you off.

Report Crime
The Vancouver Police Department's Wainberg said many crimes go unreported because of embarrassment and shame or a fear of the police or a sense that the crime is insignificant. "There is no such thing as a small crime," Wainberg stressed. "It is important to report crime because how do we know if something happens? We try, as I say, to be proactive but to be proactive we have to know locations, we have to know circumstances, and we have to know about the crime. That's important, to give the Vancouver police the information to react."

Exude Confidence
Though acquaintances are far more likely to pose a danger than total strangers, there are some tips to follow when out and about on Vancouver city streets. Attackers or scam artists are always on the lookout for easy victims, those who look weak or confused or uncertain. As a consequence, the Police Department recommends that students always try to project an air of confidence wherever they go. The easiest way to do that is to walk with your head up, using a brisk stride that suggests self-assurance. To avoid looking confused, plan your route in advance and always be alert and aware of your surroundings. One way to do that is to avoid wearing headphones on the street.

No Shortcuts
Of course common sense would dictate avoiding taking shortcuts through parks or school grounds or back alleys. Instead try to walk with someone else whenever possible and follow well-lit, busier streets.

On the Street
If someone approaches with a simple question such as the time or directions, they may have alternative motives. If, after answering the question politely, they continue to pester you try to leave that situation by changing direction or entering a nearby store or restaurant. If the person continues to aggressively pursue you state forcefully and directly: "Please leave me alone." If necessary, approach other passers-by, preferably a couple or mixed group, and tell them that someone is bothering you. Ask them if you could join them. There is nothing shameful about being safe. That is common sense.

On the Bus
Translink has a little-known program where, after 9 PM, passengers can request to be let off at any corner regardless of whether it has a bus stop or not. The rule doesn't apply to express buses but can be used on any other route. Here are some simple phrases to help communicate with the bus driver.

Crisis Line
Loneliness is another hidden danger that long-term visitors are often faced with. Being young, most have never lived alone before and sometimes can become overwhelmed with feelings of isolation, frustration, depression and despair. Fortunately, help is just a phone call away. In Vancouver the crisis hotline number is 604-872-3311.

Japanese Service
Richard Kramer, Director of the Greater Vancouver Coastal Distress Line, notes: "Our crisis line is able to provide service in Japanese through a language interpretation service. Bringing in the third party is quite quick, usually under 30 seconds." Kramer said that callers only need to express their language of choice in English in order to get this service. When someone answers just ask "Could I have service in Japanese please."

Province-Wide
Outside of the Greater Vancouver area province-wide crisis service is provided at the toll free hotline: 1-866-661-3311.

Japanese Counselling
According to Kramer, the Japanese Community Volunteers' Association [604-687-2172] provides direct bilingual counselling in the areas of family, health care, crisis intervention, legal interpretation, immigration settlement, employment advice, and housing aid.

Capital Crimes
Vancouver has the dubious distinction of being the bank robbery capital of Canada. Moreover, Greater Vancouver is also known as the property crime capital of North America. Surrey, to the east of Vancouver is the car theft capital of Canada and, in North America, only Florida boasts a greater car theft rate. [See Sidebar] Automobile theft and break-ins are exceptionally high in Vancouver too. If you buy a car while living in Vancouver the window will probably be smashed at least once by someone looking for small change or something to steal. These kinds of crime are generally tied to drug addiction and indeed BC is the leader in drug offences with more than twice the national average.

Violence Moderate
The kind of crime which matters most to visiting Japanese, however, is relatively low. As the chart below reveals, the Canadian violent crime rate is much closer to that of Japan than it is to that of the United States. With 30 times more guns in the United States than Canada one might expect a higher incidence of murder and indeed the homicide rate in United States is 3.8 times higher than that of Canada. The robbery rate too is 2.4 times higher south of the border.

Safe Enough
Though most Canadians believe Vancouver is safe enough, no one would argue that it isn't different from Japan. Those differences are an opportunity some people try to exploit. Using common sense is the best way to avoid becoming one of their victims.

Work Together
If you have been the victim of a scam or a crime drop into the hima-ari.com website and share your experience in our crime forum. If you can leave a detailed description of the criminal, so much to better. Perhaps you can help another person from Japan avoid the same problem.

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