:¥ ICBC vehicle Bruce Bernier uses a set of portable scales to weigh # a truck during a roadside | inspection. stepped up its enforce- ment vehicle salety throughout BC, commercial inspector | ICBC has J of commercial Citizens hunt for stolen cars In the Old West — or at least, in old Western movies — whenever the sheriff needed help, he called on the citizens of the town to form a posse. Public-spirited volunteers would be swom in as temporary deputics and sent off to help bring the bad guys to justice. The days of the posse are long gone. But today, citizen volunteers do have a key role to play in the fight against auto theft. The Stolen Auto Recovery program (SAR) is active in 50 communities throughout BC, including Terrace. It’s a joint effort of ICBC, the po- lice, the BC Automobile As- sociation, and community groups such as Crime Watch and Citizens On Patrol (to participate in the program, you have to be a member of one of those community groups). Using their own cars, armed only with a computer and a two-way radio, SAR volunteers patrol their local streets and parking lots an the lookout for stolen vehicles. ICBC provides each local group with a lap- top computer loaded with the plate numbers of thow- sands of stolen vehicles. While patrolling, the volunteezs tap the plate numbers of parked or suspect vehicles into the compuler, A telltale beep tells them they've found a stolen vehicle, in which case they radio the police. About 40 members of the Terrace and Kitsumkalum branches of Citizens On Pairol participate in the SAR program and regularly check licence plate sum- bers, "It gives the COPs mem- bers a feeling of doing something for their com- munity," says local SAR coordinator Constable Kurt Grabinsky of the Terrace RCMP detachment, When asked, most volunteers say they want ta help make their community a better place by reducing auto crime. And the fact is, BC's auto theft rate is the worst in Canada, with an average of 50 cars stolen | every day. The police and ICBC can use all the citizen help they can get. Bul many volunteers will also admit that it’s fun to cruise the streets late at night on the lookout for auto crime, Typical is Danny Gelmon, an SAR volunteer in Vancouver, who is out patrolling with a partner every Saturday night. "Some nights it's six hours of just driving around," he says. "Other nights you might get several *hits” in a few hours, and it can be pretty exciting." He Have breakfast or coffee on us at Cheers Restaurant while we work on your vehicle. CKET 635-7707 632-7747 4526 Greig Ave. GS Mestes Sisa'| 1700 Nalabila Blvd, a Terrace caRAKED Kitimat yy, Before my car accident I never... tealized how a “rear-ender” could turn your life upside down. My job is pretty heavy and after my car got hit I wasn’t keeping up. 1 started. to worry that | might get fired, Plus J hated the thought of missing out on my fast ball team’s first time in the’ provincials, Then my doctor, suggested working © with an Occupational Therapist and he designed a really great -tehab _ program. Together the Therapist and I talked. to my boss and after working some modi- fied duties for a few weeks | was able-to get back to my old shift. He even helped me figure out how to play in the finals without setting off those blinding headaches. My neck still ‘reminds me of my car acci- dent) sontetimes, but with my OTs help, I have my old life back. Finding life a challenge? Ask your doctor about occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy. Skills for the Job of Living. This adverlisament sponsored by: BCSOT, Community Therapists, Creative Therapy Consultants, Okanagan Rehab estimates he’s helped Tecover an average of 40 stolen vehicles a year during his six years with the pro- gram. Danny was himself a vic- tim of crime a few years ago, so he enjoys being part of the solution now, "My garage was broken into a couple of times," he ex- plains. "I wanted to do something about it. Getting involved in this program scemed the best way, "By getting out there and involving yourself, you feel like you're making a real difference," he adds, The police appreciate the belp; they know that having More eyes and ears out on the streets provides a deter- rent against crime. And ICBC Auto Crimes Strategies manager Dan Dudgeon believes the pro- gram is making a difference, "The faster that stolen autos are recovered, the less likely they are to have suf- fered severe damage," says Dudgeon, who paints out that the vast majority of thefts are by “joy riders," _ Who often trash the vehicle when they abandon jt. Last -year ICBC recorded 12 per cent fewer auto theft claims compared to 1997 — a wel- come tend in a costly battle, . ICBC now offers 24-hour telephone claims service ICBC customers can now call the corporation at any time of the day on any day of the week for claim ser- vice, The expanded hours of op- eration follow last year's ad- dition of Dial-a-Ciaim ser- - vice on Saturdays and Sun- days, In November of 1998, a pilot project showed strong cusiomer support for 24 hour a day claims service with each overnight shift handling more than 125 calls. The ICBC Telephone Claims Department handles about 16,000 calls a week from: customers throughout: B.C, who report new claims or who are seeking informa- tion about an existing claim. Approximately 300 people work al the ICBC cali centre in Surrey. In the Lower Mainland, the number to call is 520- 8222. In other parts of the. province, the toll free num- ber is 1-800-910-ICBC (4222), If you are calling from: out of B.C.,. the -toll free number is 1-800-667- 7740. ICBC’s Dial-a-Claim: 24 hours a day, seven days’ a week, fo be fit Commit Only our qualified fitness instructors can keep your Toyota in great shape. 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