Saanich police observed, but did not take action for more than a month as Canada’s most prolific voyeur violated bail conditions by visiting various businesses with a cellphone in hand. Court documents obtained by CBC News revealed that Yin Yeung Derek Chan was monitored by police while seeking potential victims at locations such as Fitness World and Value Village, where he had previously recorded hundreds of women and girls.
Chan, who captured footage of at least 652 women and girls in Greater Victoria, leading to what authorities call the largest reported case of voyeurism in Canada, was eventually sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being found guilty of voyeurism and child pornography offenses.
Details from courtroom submissions shed light on the investigation conducted by the Saanich Police Department. These records, along with victim impact statements and interviews, raised concerns about the delay in police intervention to apprehend the voyeur.
Saanich police refrained from providing responses to inquiries from CBC News, stating in a release that their decisions were guided by a trauma-informed approach to prevent actions that could potentially cause further harm to victims.
Businesses that Chan visited while breaching bail conditions expressed dismay, noting that they were not contacted by the police regarding the incidents. Value Village issued a statement expressing deep concern about the reported behavior and its impact on those affected.
Prior to his arrest in April 2024, police discovered thousands of images and over 100 hours of videos of women and children in Chan’s residence. Following his release on bail with a condition not to use a cellphone outside his home, Saanich police observed Chan using multiple cellphones in public on at least three occasions over a span of a month before his re-arrest on Jan. 30, 2025.
The majority of Chan’s victims, including over 400 women and children, were surreptitiously recorded at Value Village before his initial arrest, as highlighted by Crown lawyer Paul Cheeseman during court proceedings.
Former head of the Independent Investigations Office, Ron MacDonald, emphasized that police have a duty to prevent harm when the public is at risk, particularly in cases like voyeurism that can cause severe psychological distress.
As the community learned about Chan’s offenses following his sentencing, concerns and discussions arose in online forums and social media regarding the potential scope of the victims impacted by his actions. One victim, protected by a publication ban, expressed worries about the widespread impact of Chan’s voyeurism on women and girls in the region.
Police efforts to identify victims and further investigate Chan’s activities were mentioned during the sentencing hearing, including the use of an AI model to assist in locating victims and additional videos produced by Chan. Deputy Chief Const. Damian Kowalewich acknowledged the lasting effects of Chan’s crimes on the victims and reiterated ongoing support for those affected.