Click here to view photos of vandalism on the streets of Vancouver

VANCOUVER - Angry Canucks fans went on a rampage, smashing windows, looting and torching cars and dumpsters on the streets of downtown Vancouver last night.

More than three hours after the Stanley Cup final loss, police are moving up Howe St. toward the crowd massed at the Chapters book store on Howe and Robson.

They are very gradually pushing the crowd North up Howe.

Police spokeswoman Jana McGuiness warned earlier that police are about to escalate their response.

She said they will be igniting flash-bangs, which make loud noises and spray.

"What we're doing right now is bringing in hundreds of police officers."

The message is, you need to leave."

Officers armed with canisters massed on the corner of Granville and Robson. It is not clear whether it is tear gas or pepper spray

They are protected by shields, batons and masks.

McGuiness said the epicentre of the trouble is Granville and Georgia, she said. And even if transit isn't operating, people need to walk away from the area, she said.

When asked if police had lost control of the crowd, McGuiness would only say police have a plan to deal with the unruly crowds.

Vancouver police are closing lanes on Granville and Burrard and Cambie Street bridges to prevent more people from coming Downtown. Bus service has been halted in the downtown core.

However, Skytrain and Seabuses are operating to take people out but not inot the downtown core. Translink spokesman Ken Hardie said the Burrard Skytrain station was closed briefly because the crowds were too large, but that all the stations are open now.

Police on horseback are now at the corner of Seymour on Georgia where fires are burning and windows being smashed at the Bay. They are ready to approach in attempt to clear the mob.

Looters are now inside the Sears store, intent on continuing the looting. A dumpster nearby has also be set on fire. Windows at the Chapters store on Howe and Robson are also being smashed.

Lights from a police helicopter are lighting the area, but so far police remain on the periphery.

Minutes before, the roving vandals smashed their way into London drugs, grabbing armfuls of goods and tossing bags of chips into the crowd.

At the Bay, rioters jumped in and out of the store as passersby encouraged others to loot.

A number are masking their identities with bandanas.

Mayor Gregor Robertson, looked rattled and angry as he spoke to reporters at a news conference downtown.

He called the rioting, "absolutely disgraceful and shameful."

Robertson said the Vancouver police are fully deployed and that "the focus is on getting people home safely tonight."

"We will deal with these trouble makers."

He said fire fighters are dealing with four fire and a number of "hot spots."

"There is still a lot of work to do."

The RCMP are sending in officers to help with what is now an out of control mob.