A group of only seven undercover crime fighters working in Vancouver's downtown core have managed to put a big dent in crime.
They're the 'loss prevention specialists' employed by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and they've recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise and made nearly 500 apprehensions last year.
The Association's Charles Gauthier says it's a program unique to Vancouver, "I haven't encountered a similar program in any other North American city based on the networks we have. But there's been attempts to replicate this for smaller business improvement associations. To my knowledge, they're not operating to the same extent that we are."
Gauthier says apprehensions were down last year over 2011 and he says that's a reflection of the declining crime rate in the city.