Although Vincent Yan is an innocent family man, a SWAT team recently pushed their way into his Toronto-area home this weekend, handcuffed him and placed him in temporary police custody, all around 6:00 in the morning.
This terrifying incident occurred because of a new prank known as “swatting,” according to Global News. As part of the hoax, perpetrators will fake an emergency phone call to police, somehow with the homeowners’ phone number displayed. A SWAT team then responds with a forced entry, creating extensive damage to the residence.
“They said they received a phone call that there was gun fire and some killing in my house. And they said it was from my phone number,” Yan told the outlet. “It was like bang, bang, bang, neighbors said it was like gunfire when they pounded on the door.”
The ordeal is frightening, with Yan describing his experience as being awaken by ten to 20 police officers, all pointing a gun in his face. Although this prank isn’t prevalent across Canada yet, similar incidences have occurred in Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver and Laval.
Fortunately for Yan, many Canadian home insurers will cover any damages sustained by police, fire or other city services during an emergency. A State Farm representative told Global News that it even provides for claims if the policyholder in question is arrested.
In other instances where coverage is not adequate, certain police municipalities such as Ottawa’s have a fund to assist swatting victims, although “home insurance and liability would have to be figured out before anything was paid.”
An additional question arises, however, if the prank caller is ever identified.
“An insurance company could certainly seek restitution through the courts both civilly and criminally to recoup the costs they paid to repair the damage to their customer’s home,” John Bordignon from State Farm Insurance said.
As for Yan, he has since discontinued his landline services and was issued a formal apology by police.
