Chilliwack RCMP are urging the author of recent racists emails to step forward if he or she is truly sorry for sending them.
This week police launched an investigations after “disturbing and hurtful” emails were sent anonymously to the owners of two local Indian restaurants.
Police then learned that a third email had been sent to another Chilliwack business.
The emails were sent from the same email address and said the same thing.
After the first reported incident, an RCMP investigator wrote to the email address, saying the police were now investigating and suggested the emails stop. An apology was received from the anonymous email address. The person also indicated he or she was having a bad day and was suffering from mental health issues when the emails were written.
But an anonymous apology is not enough, said RCMP Corporal Tammy Hollingsworth.
"Anonymous apologies don't mean much when they don't hold any weight behind them,” she said. “The Chilliwack RCMP would like to speak to the author of these emails and are asking him or her to come forward.”
If the author is struggling with “mental health issues,” Hollingsworth added, the police want to help.
Police are not ruling out the possibility the incidents may be motivated by hate. "We are certainly looking at all aspects of the investigation in order to better determine what the motivation is and will pursue as necessary,” Hollingsworth said.
The BC Hate Crimes Unit have been consulted and are assisting in the investigation.
Hollingsworth said she has been encouraged by the support shown the businesses.
"This isn't something that our community wants to be known for and it's certainly not a reflection of what we see in Chilliwack on a regular basis," she said. "Although we have a small multi-cultural community, the victims have already received support from many Chilliwack residents."
Anyone with information about these crimes, or if they have been a victim of a similar incident, is asked to call the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).