14. Terrace Review — Wednesday, September 17, 1986

shoplifting — it’s a crime

. TERRACE — Shoplift-
ing for ‘“‘kicks’’? Those
“kicks” can haunt you
forever.

by Daniele Berquist

Jeff and his’ two
friends always went
shopping on Saturdays.
With school out and a
chance to do odd jobs
for a couple of dollars
here and there, Saturday
shopping was great.

When Jeff went into
the store that Saturday,
stealing was the last
thing on his mind.

“Hey Jeff, did you
ever steal?’’ asked friend
no. 1,

“What's this...” Jeff
said, feeling cornered.
He replied, ‘'Who
hasn’t?”’ trying to main-
tain his cool about the
confrontation.

“‘There’s an album on
special, you know the
new one by Boy George.
I need it for my collec-
tion. How ‘bout it,
Jeff,’’ asked friend no.
2.

“You mean steal it?”
replied an intimidated
Jeff. ‘‘I can lend you the
money if you’re short.’’

The two friends look-
ed at each other and
laughed...

A million thoughts
were going through
Jeff’s mind. What if he
got caught? Shoplifting
is a criminal offence...
What would his parents
say... At school when he
returned, would all his
friends know... His

thoughts were inter-
rupted by the proposed
challenge.

ON A DARE

‘‘Hey Jeff, what's the
matter? Are you
chicken? asked his two
friends.

‘Who, me?’’ Jeff
forced a smile.

A dare from his
friends was too much to
take...

Jeff wasn’t a chicken.
He walked over to the
‘shelf where records were
displayed, looked both
ways; left, right, and
then he checked behind
him, The coast was clear,
no one was looking his:
way. ‘I'll do it only this
once, and never again,
cross my heart,’ Jeff

aoe

thought. He was scared
and. his heart was poun-
ding. Jeff took the LP,
hid it under his coat...
A little uneasy about it
all, not knowing what to
think about his ac-
complishment and how
his friends would react,
Jeff buttoned his coat.
‘They'll really respect me
now,’ he thought. Jeff
pushed the idea of
someone finding out
about his escapade to the

back of his mind. He

walked forward nervous-
ly at first, then con-
fidently. Smiling broad-
ly, he stepped outside ...
a man followed him out.

Jeff's face was pale...
why did he listen to his
friends? He looked to
them for support, of
course. His eyes scanned
the parking lot... they
were gone... Jeff was
alone. :

The man brought Jeff
into his office. He called
Jeff's parents. The man
also called the police. -

After what seemed to
be a long period of

silence, Jeff spoke.
Sir???

The ‘man looked his
way...

**T didn’t mean to... It
was a joke... You know
like... ugh... I’m sorry...
It won't happen again, I
swear.,.’?

*“‘Jeff,’’ replied .
man, ‘‘shoplifting is
stealing and a criminal
act,’’

Jeff’s parents arrived,
angry and hurt, not
knowing what to say to
their son. The police
pulled into the parking
lot.

A little pressure from
his friends and Jeff
didn’t have the courage
to keep his hands to
himself, Jeff had traded
a record for a record.

NO SURE
PREVENTION

Terrace, being no diff-
erent than other cities,
has had its encounters
with shoplifters.

Dale Hagen, manager
of Woolworth FW Co.
Ltd., said that approx-
imately 30 incidents of
shoplifting since the new
year, were reported in his
store alone.

Summer and
Christmas are the two

*T see ll quite a bit with ‘only children’ sie
he's spolled rotten.”

worst times of the year,
commented Hagen. Kids
are out of school, go

shopping, see things they

want and can’t afford,
so they steal. Hagen said
that the age group af-
fected by shoplifting is
generally 16 and under,
These youngsters work
with older ones, and
can’t get. charged
because of their age, he
noted. -

The parents are con-
tacted in an incident of
shoplifting, .continued
Hagen. Some. parents
really care, while others
don’t, he added.

Shoplifted goods can-
not be recovered through
insurance, added Hagen.
The sad part of it all is
there’s no sure way of
preventing shoplifting.

Hagen concluded that
if the courts could make
the penalty stiffer for
shoplifters, regardless of —
their age, then maybe
shoplifting statistics
would drop.

CRIME PREVENTION ©

PAMPHLET

The manager of the
K-Mart Store in Terrace
said the more customers
you have, the higher the
risks of shoplifting.
Most shoplifters are aged
between 12 and 20 years
of age, commented the
manager, and there’s no

insurance for shop-
lifting,

A crime prevention
pamphlet, entitled

‘Shoplifting, it’s a crime’
is available from Terrace
RCMP headquarters.
The pamphlet gives
parents guidelines on
what they can do to pre-
vent shoplifting.

To start, a parent can
talk to their youngsters
about’ shoplifting.

Adults can also em-

phasize the seriousness
of stealing, and that go-
ing along with the crowd
for the fear of being
labelled chicken is the
coward’s way out,

If a child comes home
with more merchandise

. than he or she has money

to buy, parents are urged
to inquire about it.
Police say not to take
easy answers and note
that sales slips are an ex-
cellent proof of pur-
chase. Other helpful
hints are available from
this pamphlet. Feel free
to pick one up at your
local police station.
Thoughts to ponder:
with a police record it
can be difficult, if not
impossible, to go into
business or a profession
where special licences are
required, such as law, in-
surance and real estate.
A criminal record can
keep individuals out of
college or professional
school. Admission to a
foreign country can also
be denied, due to a
criminal record.

Amo Brenner, director of the Terrace Correctional [n-

stitute, talks about the uniqueness of their programs.
Sherry Halfyard photo

Prison system unique

by Sherry Halfyard
TERRACE — The local
correctional institute
treats their inmates dif-
ferently than a standard
prison, said correctional
institute director Arno
Brenner,

He commented that
their admission pro-
cedures were very dif-
ferent from those of a
secure prison. “In a
secure prison inmates
lose part of their dignity,
they are
hardened criminals.’’

Admission procedures
at the Terrace Institute
are different because we
are not a secure unit,
Brenner said.

At the Terrace Correc-
tional Institute only 24

‘inmates are taken. This

enables them to treat
everyone as individuals.
Depending on an in-
mates ability and
motivation, a program is
designed to suit his
needs, Brenner said.
Many of the prisoners
participate in outside ac-
tivities such as swimming
at the local pool,
rehabilitation programs
that operate in the com-

Terrace Police Statistics

period in 1985.

cases per month.

prices to the consumer.
To shoplift is to steal.

Between Jan. 1 and June 30, reported shoptlif-
ting offences increased by 4 percent over the same

Police know with some degree of certainty that
only about 20 percent of shoplifting crimes are ac-
tually observed by clerks or the public.

In other words, in the community, it is probable
that the number of offences committed so far this
year ranges in the 500 mark, or a minimum of 80

Those numbers represent a very substantial loss
to business operators, however, they, in turn,
must often make up their loss through increases in

Some people police apprehend for shoplifting,
when questioned whether they would steal, are
very indignant but at the same time treat shoplif-
ting as a prank or a joke, an RCMP representative
said. But the fact is they still end up with a
criminal record for theft. I think we should call it
what it is, ‘‘theft’’, the official said.

‘treated like

munity, and courses at prison everyone is

Northwest Co
College.

mmunity treated the same,’’ Bren- .

“In a secure ner said.

Join the BUCKLE UP Brigade
_ Seat belts save lives.

ARIES
Mar. 21-Apr. 19

TAURUS
Apr. 20-May 20

GEMINI
May 21-dJune 20

CANCER
Sune 2-July 22

LEO
July 23-Aug. 22

VIRGO
Aug. 23-Sept. 22

LIBRA
Sept. 23-Oct. 22°

SCORPIO
Oct. 23-Nov. 21

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS
Jan. 20-Feb, 18

PISCES
Feb. 19-Mar. 20

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Your Week Ahead Horoscope ©

Nov. 22-Dec. 21 -

Dec. 22-Jan.19 -

BER T’S DELICATESSEN

4603 Park Ave T
ee ee *

‘Your message

from the stars...

Voice your opinicns with confidence. You are »
ina position toremedy a difficult situation for *
an associate.
Apply your powers of concentration to straight- *
ening out some preety sticky dealings on the *
work front, %
Speculative dealings should fare pretty well,
butdon't mortgage the family ranch. Aspects »
aren't that good.

. : *
A home computer could provide extra income
and make it easier to provide those extras for *
the family.
Active participation in community affairs #
generates much correspondence and exchange
of information. Your education continues.
Look for the source of confusion and avoid
disagreement with partner over who holds the
purse strings. XA
. You tend to give thought to appearance, and *
are conscious of matters having to do with ¥*
dress, health, diet, ”
Escape to a quiet place where you can sort out »
the troublesome thoughts that populate your rm
mind. —
Associates keep in close touch with you as they *
appreciate your fresh outlook. Your presence *
assures success. +
Be sincere in your efforts to inform interested
parties of what's going on behind the scenes.
Communication with friends at a distance »
creates interest in pursuing a course in higher *
learning. The pathis open.
Your intuitive talents are working overtime.
You seem to know ahead of time what is about
tohappen.

WE HAVE...

..a large varlety of
meats, cheesas, European
noveltias, super
sandwiches, fresh saiads.

We cater for large and

”
*
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he
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small parlies and picnics. *
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Ferrace | (across from the library) 2A