North Vancouver RCMP says its youth support team is seeing a "marked increase" in teens carrying weapons.

In a two-week span, RCMP say the team has had more than "10 interactions" with teens who were carrying airsoft guns, knives or homemade weapons.

In one instance officers were patrolling a local trail and found teens who were in possession of makeshift weapons, while in another case youth officers "confronted" teens with knives and homemade Tasers near school property, police said in a release Tuesday (Oct. 22).

North Vancouver RCMP Const. Mansoor Sahak said weapons like these can "cause disagreements to spiral out of control and can result in an escalated police response that has the potential to ultimately place the public, the youth, and the police in harms way."

Police added that the possession of an airsoft gun is legal, but "criminal charges can be laid if it is concealed or used to threaten, intimidate or assault others."