A high-profile kidnapping and reports of another have sent a ripple of fear through the community of Hong Kong and mainland students in Vancouver.
'When I first came here I thought ... 'I don't have to worry about safety',' said Hong Kong student Wingki Chan, 18, who arrived in Vancouver two months ago. 'But these kidnappings are scary.'
What raised concern for Ms Chan was the abduction last month of an 18-year-old mainland student, who was allegedly seized from his West End apartment by a gang who sent a ransom demand to the young man's parents in Beijing.
Police rescued the young man in a dramatic operation in suburban Burnaby on February 19 after a four-day ordeal in which he was moved to a series of locations. Officers rescued the victim from a vehicle, using stun grenades during the operation.
Police charged Zhi Qi Wang, 32, Huan Wen Wen, 25, Yang Jason Yu, 27, and Guang River Zhang, 27, with unlawful confinement. Police say the victim, originally from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, knew his alleged kidnappers.
The case has prompted a Chinese students' association at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to seek a meeting with police to examine security concerns and how to prevent similar incidents.