_ Crime rate steadies out __ but police keeping busy TERRACE — Crime fell by ‘about seven per cent here in _ 1991, according to Terrace RCMP’s year-end report. - But RCMP were busier with ‘ non-Criminal Code offences, Tesponding to 12,162 com- , Plaints last year — a one per _ cent increase over the previous year. . RCMP Inspector Lawrence Yeske says he isn’t asking for , any new officers this year, noting his detachment received --an additional officer and clerk last year. .., ' “Our workload has gone up . Over the’ last few years,’ he said, “‘but the city has provided us with additional manpower as -well.’” at .Yeske: noted officers here ‘each handle an average of 100 “criminal ‘offence files a year — a nhumber- considered near op- timal. * “1. Overall, police responded to ‘2,209 criminal code offences, -down ‘seven’ per cent from 1990's total of 2,382. Some statistics: “=. * No homicides occurred in ‘the detachment area in 1991. But common assaulls were up “30 per cent, «The number of impaired -Grivers charged in 1991 was 140, up one per cent. Police said 155 ‘roadside suspensions were ‘issued — down 24 per cent from _ “the previous year. * Bréeak-ins went up 1§ per cent to 232 reports. Car thefts fell 37 per cent to 24 incidents. -t Inspector Lawrence Yeske Shoplifting declined by 27 per cent, and bike thefts held steady at 130 reported thefts. * Vandalism increased 7,5 per cent to 546 complaints. The number of incidents of disturb- ing the peace feil by 39 per cent to 135. * Drug offences fell by 15 per cent to 78 charges laid. ¢ The number of intoxicated persons picked up dropped 27 per cent to 775. Liquor Act violations, however, soared 108 per cent to 1,071, . * Speeding and traffic viola- tions fell 20 per cent to 5,895. Bylaw violations fell by four per cent to 186. * Car accidents went down sharply to 275 from 500 — a 45 per cent decrease. Police at- ‘tribute the drop to the mild - Threat closes mall ‘TERRACE — An RCMP bomb “squad was called out from Van- ccouver on Feb. 23 to dispose of ‘a suspicious package found at Overwaitea, . Sunday shoppers were hustl- “ed out of the Skeena Mall _. «around noon and the mall re- " “mained closed for the rest of the day. | "The two police bomb disposal ‘bh i experts arrived that afternoon, said RCMP, and determined the package was not dangerous. ‘“‘We’re asking for the public’s assistance in this case,’’ said staff sergeant John Veldman. . Police are also investigating a recent rash of bomb threats that has hit other local businesses, winter weather and lack of ice and snow on roads. People were injured in 61 accidents last year. RCMP staff sergeant John Veldman said police will con- tinue to try to find: areas to make the detachment's opera- tion more efficient. , Court overtime, for example, cost the detachment more than $3,100 in December to pay of- ficers to testify in court. And in more than 80 per cent of. the court overtime hours worked, the officers didn’t testify. It’s still necessary to have police officers in court — even when they don’t testify — because criminals often plead guilty if they know the officer is there to testify, © But Veldman said better scheduling — so officers are in court during their regular shift — could help reduce the amount of overtime being claimed, He also said a surcharge may be introduced on criminal record checks, because the number of requests police receive. has increased dramatically in recent years, Many of those record check requests, he said, are for school teachers and other professionals who work closely with children. More checks are being done on those workers because of the number of recent widely publicized sexual abuse cases.” “We get a fair number of these clearances and it takes a fair amount of time to process them,”? Veldman said. STOREWIDE SALE ———__ VENTORY MUST BE SOL Putting It Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 4, 1992 — Paga A9 Simply .. . We Have It Alll! © Ceramic 7 Wall Coverings A NEW WORLD OF COLOR AND DESIGN G YOUR DECOR Terrace Carpet Centre 3202 Munroe Street at Hwy. 18W TERRACE _635-2976_ - pa aeee |. ‘Lehmanns Have Sold Their Jewellery Business To Carters Jewellers Rings * Watches . Gold Chains 7 For the, bride-to-be a diamond ring Is the most important ring you pick. ” We'll show you only the best quality at retirement sale prices! rg 33 ve a a Bet eC ~ Diamond. Engagement Rings Heinz & Trudy Lehmann 25 Years In The Jewellery Business In Terrace A | WIDE STORE Everything has been marke oy een Come see our huge selection — it won't last! d down. Yes, everything! Pendants e Earrings’ | & Jewellery Caltured Pearl ae NECKLACES > & EARRINGS. Pearis have always been popular and now they’re more fashionable than ever and Heinz & perfectly priced. of bf . Trudy Lehman 7 want you to F take advantages of these great § savings! LEHMANN JEWELERS , SKEENA MALL, TERRACE # 635-5616