The Terrace Slandard, Wednesday, February 19, 1997 - A3 More autos | — _—— ripped off News In Brief Crooks caught in the act VEHICLE THEFTS were up 92 per cent in Terrace in OBSERVANT CITIZENS and quick police action last week led to the arrest of three burglars in two different 1996. In 1995, 24 cars were stolen, Last year that number was 46 vehicles. paris of the cily. The numbers are an echo of a province-wide trend. On Feb, 11, palice say they had a report of two men Across the northern interior, vebicle thefts are up 24 per altempting to break into the Royal Canadian Legion. , . ‘Two Terrace males were arrested on charges of break- vent. Prince Rupert fared worst of all, with an increase of 173 per cent. and-enter. They are also suspected of a successful Paul McNicholls, head of the ICBC Terrace office, says break-in at the legion the previous night. Also on Feb. 11, police received a report of a man he majority of the thefts are due to joyriding youths, and nost of the vehicles are recovered. carrying items to a vehicle in the parking lot of Terrace , . Honda. RCMP found an adult male from the lower Damage ranges from a dirtied interior to vehicles. which yave been smashed up and written off. mainland in possession of break-in instruments ‘and . ; property stolen froin one of the cars on the lot. Any lype of vehicle, even older model family styles, are RCMP credited the arrests to citizens reporting suspi- it risk. However some models are more prone to go miss- ng. cious activily, Vehicles that are five times more Hkely to be stolen are H H Toyota Van LE, the Dodge Spirit, Shadow and Plymouth sawmill to keep running Acclaim. Honda Preludes and Plymouth Sundance models A TWO-WEEK shutdown of Repap’s Prince Rupert ire four times more likely to be stolen, while the Chevrolet pulp mill won’t affect sawmill operations here, says Camaro, Ford Mustang and Dodge Caravans are three Repap B.C. spokesman Pat Ogawa. times more likely to be stolen. , Repap’s mill here will keep running despite the Plymouth Voyager vans, Jeep Cherokee and Grand March 11-25 shutdown of the pulp mill, which has Cherokee, Toyola 4Runner and Acura Integra models are been blamed on the glut of pulp on world markets. twice as likely to be stolen. “We'll just top up our chip piles a bit,’’ Ogawa said. Vans and trucks are popular because many stolen . . Council wants action vehicles are used to commit other crimes, and those vehicles are useful for carrying goods taken from break yng 6 CITY COUNCIL is writing to forests minister Dave Zirnhelt to call for swift action to help the forest indus- and enters, In Terrace, McNicholls advises that if people simpl ' pep py try get back on its feet. The letier expresses council’s ‘“‘grave concem” about locked their cars, and didn’t leave valuables in them, the risk of theft would be dramatically reduced. . s 3 at . the ‘devastating effect’’ provincial policies are having on the forest industry in this area, Another program that’s starting to lake effect is one ICBC is doing | juncti ith the police. If 1 See eon een a OOo ee Ona Zimbelt met with West Fraser officials late last week regarding the company’s continuing closure of its don’t normally use their vehicle late at night, they can get Skeena Sawmills plant here. a sticker and pul it in their car. If police see the car out in Closure opposed the carly moraing hours, they'll stop and investigate. Local police are also looking into working more closely CITY COUNCIL is asking the province to review its decisian to close the Prince Rupert land tile office, with citizen watch groups, They’re trying to see if they'll be able to provide the watch groups updated information on stolen vehicles in the area that they can keep an cye out for. . to F throwing about 14 people there out of work. Another way ICBC hopes to enlist the public's help is by Councillor Linda Hawes persuaded most of her fel- low councillors to agree to the position, although a number of them indicated they still think Victoria’s move to cenlralize the service in Prince George makes adverlising some of the stolen vehicles through Crimestop- pers. McNicholls hopes this will lead to information about sense, A council committee had ‘early recommended the city do nothing. the thieves. “More people are starling to realize that they’re the ones paying for these crimes. It all comes out of their pockets in David Hull was the only one who actually voted against the motion. Hull said he’s no friend of the New Democrats, but argued it’s hypocritical for council to ihe end.”’ call on the province to cut costs and be more efficient Bench break-ins onthe rove ocak TERRACE RCMP are looking for the public's help in ‘We have to pick our fights carefully,’ Hull said, solving a series of break-ins on the bench. addin tbe chs er : . @ that excessive ‘bitching and whining” about Police say that over the last three weeks there have been less important issues weakens the impact of the city’s three early morning break-ins involving Daybreak Farms voice when the time comes to fi . ; : . bi something trily im- and Upland Kennels in the areas of North Eby and Dairy . im : ' portant — such as the current forest industry crisis. Streets, Stolen items have included a cash box, wallet and Hawes contended that the land tide office in Prince a phone. Evidence in two of the cases reveated that an individual rea actually turns a profit of more than $400,000 a fled south from the scene on foot. a ONE WAY POLICE nab car thiefs is to do a careful examination of the vehicle Councillor Val George said he suspects the move _ Anyone with any information about these crimes isasked — once its found. Cpl, John Scott searches vehicles for evidence like hair, in hopes | may make sense, but agrees the government should re- to call Terrace RCMP of Crimestoppers of matching it to a suspect. examine the move and only proceed if there are sig- nificant cost savings. Quality ay 5 af fordabitity Doors & locks ACG © Cassette Tit = Cruise 28 | (ie eye "96 Ford F250 Ex.Cab 4x4 10 » Automatic/XET * Power Windows, Locks & Mirrors +toatled «VC call + Cruise” » “only B9Wkm —— ol | Je Underlay* with aliy Rollend ‘36 Mercury Vi ac . ==|1\! purchased by Feb, 22 ee a } ['94 Chev $10 4x2 Pickup}} || = = == 8 8 = * 7/46 Alb. 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