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Homicide investigators are looking into Surrey's fifth murder of 2013 after the body of an adult male was discovered in a grassy area at the side of a road.

Police were called to the 12300-block of Colebrook Road in South Surrey at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, Corporal Adam MacIntosh of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said in a news release. Upon arriving at the rural area, "investigators quickly identified this male's death was the result of a homicide," Corp. MacIntosh said.

Surrey RCMP secured the scene and contacted IHIT, which has since taken over the investigation.

As of early Monday afternoon, IHIT was still working to identify the victim. The cause of death is not being released and it is not yet known if the homicide was gang-related, Corp. MacIntosh said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact IHIT by phone at 1-877-551-IHIT or by e-mail at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Monday's homicide is the latest in a string that has prompted Surrey's top cop to issue a public statement on gang violence.

On Jan. 13, gangster Manjot Dhillion, 27, was shot several times in the area of 168th Street and 76th Avenue. He was taken to hospital but died hours later, IHIT spokeswoman Sergeant Jennifer Pound said.

The same day, John Edward McGiveron and Geordie Wesley Carlow, both 33-year-old males from Surrey, were found dead in a parkade in the 9400-block of 128th Street after reports of shots fired. IHIT said the men were known to police but evidence did not support that their deaths were gang-related, Sgt. Pound said.

On Jan. 15, gangster Manjinder "Manny" Hairan, 29, was shot dead in the area of 127th Street and 112B Avenue.

In a statement issued last week, Surrey RCMP's Chief Superintendent Bill Fordy re-assured residents police have a "comprehensive approach to address gang violence" which includes a gang enforcement team and the WRAP program, which identifies young people at risk of being recruited into gangs.

"There is much being done and I can assure you that our tactics are very robust and place us in the forefront of policing," Chief Supt. Fordy said.

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