B20 - Friday, November 16, 1984 - North Shore News Residential safety tips © Saas REALTY WATCH an Realtors provide extra sets of eyes for police REAL TFORS ACROSS the North Shore are gear- ing up tO participate in a new safety scheme called Realty Watch. | By JOANNE MACDONALD | The chairman of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver's (REBGYV) pubhuity and public relations Lomimittee, Trevor Bennett says the plan will basically be used to give local police forces “Can extra bunch ot eves 7° “Real estate people are always driving around out there so they mught as well help rhe police.” says Ben nett, who works for Western Realty “‘We won't get in- volved on actually catching people. [i's just a matter of getting organized and repor. Ung suspimous circumstances to the police.’ Chuck Mitten, owner of Mitten Realty and the presi- dent of the REBGV says the idea basic behind Realty jan Dennis Watch ts that realtors who are out in the field are ‘‘probably in the best posi- tion to observe any suspicious situations, such as people walking around pro- perties or obviously trespass- ing, Or even Irying to break and enter.”’ Mitten says although the program just started Operating in the summer, it’s popularity 1s spreading rap- idjy throughout the pro- vinee According to Anne Broad foot, pubhe relations direc tor at the RE BGYV., the whole idea of Realty Watch origi nated with a program started by realtors in’ Philadelphia and Aurora, Colorado. Used as ‘‘adjuncts*’*’ to the neighborhood watch scheme started by local law en forcement agencies, Broad. foot says the REBOYV is now working with the Vancouver Island and = Fraser Valley Real Estate Boards on the Realty Watch scheme ‘*Local police were aware of i and felt it would be useful. In Aurora, Col. orado, alone, property crime rates went down by 27 per cent as a result of the pro- gram,’’ says Broadfoot She adds all members of the real estate board will be expected to take training sessions. **The police would rather get 10 suspicious cases reported, then miss an actual crime,’’ says Broadfoot. lan Dennis, self-emploved and the past president of the REBGV, who is also the chairman of the Realty Watch committee savs a meeting will be held today between local police torces and realtors to discuss. ar- rangements for the upcom- Ing awareness training ses- SIONS “Tt will be up to the various realtors to decide when to arrange these ses sions, but they're important when you realize that most neighborhood crime takes place between the hours of 10 am to 3 pm.” says Dennis To date, Bennett savs there has been positive feed- back from areas already us- ing Realty Watch, trom both the realtors and law. en- forcement offtcials involved He cited Rachmond and Co- Chuck Mitten quitlam ,as areas where the training sessions have already been held. Rich- mond alone had a turnout of 2S0 realtors to the initial training sessions. He echoes Dennis’ senu- ments that the establishment of the Realty Watch scheme in each municipality will be up to the discretion of the individual realtors, but adds it could take longer to set up the program in some areas than others “TPT othink there’s a real need tor this 1ype of service I'm not suggesting that our climate and our concerns are the same as the parts of the United States where the pro- gram came into effect. This is Shghtly different from neighborhood watch,” savs Bennett “But the reduction in crime in some areas of the United States certainty Shows the merit of this pro- posal When you) consider the thousands of real estate people cn the Lower Marnland, it could have ma- yor beneficial effects. We're simply going to take the function we're already doing and use it to help out the police — The name friends recommend 985-9544 Integrity, Professionalism... ACTION! REAL ESTATE SERVICES LTD e REAL TOR SOLD!!! STI Redonda Ave S188 Madera Court iz SST) Malas pita Place “ GOP? Canyort Blvd $33 $b rote Road oe ASO CTTW sr Sottere t mn AYP CCIW 8th Sotreret $211,900 $202,500. $158,000. $125,000. $96,000. mNOPEN SATURDAY 35 $38,500 oe, too you tw a 1 $38,000 po ee GOOD LOCATION $105. 900 OPEN SUNDAY 24 wey Moe re Oe cn ee ec ee 2] Wer tyes Pr ee pore) strtoaly piaia they we mr, lntcresl rates arc VOWN! sates tn North Vancouver are ur: The time is RIGHT Make your move NOW! LIST with US SELL with US BUY with US. aS mOolHity CGi,. ws Vrye ec racre | OPEN SUNDAY 2 4 HOAL to ON T BE OPEN SUNDAY bot tevert Ho at . DJAND hy CONDE IME NE MANDZUK 98D Ya, - 985 9544 oF 9B/ Bb. 4 989 9544 of 929 6727 nd — to mech yout pocrsomal oa hb bas Oo tap or selligye we're here co biteb s ‘ . koe