North Vancouver RCMP warn of youth carrying weapons [Video]

North Vancouver RCMP is warning parents and teenagers of the dangers of weapons following an increase in armed youth in the community.

Over the past two weeks, Mounties have dealt with 10 instances of youth carrying replica guns, knives, or homemade weapons, North Vancouver RCMP said in a release Tuesday.

During one of those interactions, officers from the RCMP’s Youth Support Team confronted youth with knives and homemade tasers near a school. In another, youth officers came across a youth carrying makeshift weapons while patrolling local trails.

Const. Mansoor Sahak, media relations officer for the North Vancouver RCMP, said the police are “extremely concerned” with the increase in weapons youth are carrying.

“Weapons such as these can cause disagreements to spiral out of control and can result in an escalated police response that has the potential to ultimately place the public, the youth, and the police in harm’s way,” he …