4 ~ Wednesday, October 21, 1998 ~ North Shore News Thi Catherine Barr Contributing Writer KAREN Crawford wants her memories back. On Oct. 3) a van contain ing aH of Crawford's world possessions was stolen froma lot behind North Vancouver's Edgemont 9 Moving and Storage Ltd. She was in the process of moving to North Vanceuver from Parksville at the time. The loaded moving van was holding the goods overnight when the theft occurred. Three days latercon Oct. 6, the Moving van turned up in New Westminster, But Crawtord’s possessions were long gone. And now Crawford wants to recover what she can and help prevent this wpe of thing from happening to anyone else. “T wouldn't want my worst enemy to go through this,” she said. “It's almost like there’s a person gone.” Still emotional about the experience, Crawford has a hard time speaking about it. She said she feels violated. “It’s very hard to describe. I've never had this feeling in my life,” she said. “I ger con- fused. 1 try to do (things) and start erving.” Crawford, whose belong- ings were covered by insur- ance, said that she just wants her most personal things back. She is counting on the public for help. “If somebody could at least be aware that this has happened,” she said. “E wouldn't care abour anything else, just my photos of my children and grandkids. The other things are just things.” Meanwhile, Crawford is trying to get her life back in order. “T understand thaz if some- body wants to get something then they’re going to get in, but J feel that they (the com- pany) could have taken more precautions,” she said. She said that if she had known the company was park- ing the loaded moving van in an unlocked company com- pound, she would have never agreed to it. But according to company manager David Crawford (no relation), the company took every possible precaution. He said that even though the back lor is not locked up overnight, sur le cancer 1-888-939-3333 cance’ SOCETY DU CANCER: The Canadian Cancer Society needs volunteer Information Specialists to operate its Cancer Information Telephone Service. Volunteers should have a heath care professional background and basic computer skills. Shore moving van NEWS photo Mike Wakefield KAREN Crawford lost all her belongings after an Edgemont Moving and Storage van was stolen from a North Vancouver lot. there is night security. He said that this ts the first major thett the company has had in over 38 years of busi- ness. According = to David Crawford, a window had been broken in the stolen van, but the vehicle had been hot- wared. Phe vants rrramuim fogks were Intact bur had been pried trom other foundanons and the hardware forcibly removed. “Its no different: to any normal sate thett” he said “Tt someone is a determined protessional, thew ll get in.” So far, he sad his compans fas Jost over $20,000 duc to the thett. This meludes truck dam age and lost man bours. Uhe company dso paid tora heli copter search oof the Surrey area when other moving com: panies phoned in tips about the stoien van. David) Crawtord said) he wonders whether the entire incident is part of an orza- nized crime ring He said that recently, seven other stolen moving cans from separate Lower Mainland companies were found within a 1O-block radius of where his company’s van was locared. “We are a victim here too,” said David Crawford. “We feel extremely sorry for Mire. Crawtord She really just wants her turmiture back and ut we ceuhd produce in we would” In the meantunc, Edgemont Moving has foaned Crawtord. a bed to steep in. North Vancouver ROMP Const. Tom Sean said that the investigation is) continu mg. He said the chance of Crawtord recovering all of her property was “sin” but thar she hada good chance of get- ting some of it back. “Hopetully an honest citi- gen will come forward,” he said. There’s at feast ong per- son thar knows what hap- pened. And if there’s one, then there’s 10.7 Meanwhile, Seaman advised peuple who are hiring companics to move their belongings to: @ take our sufficient: insur- ance: Mask where company moving trucks are stored overnight; Band mark all valuable woods with cither a serial number or their own name and driver's licence number. W. Van church expansion plans nixed Catherine Barr Contributing Writer THE North Shore Unitarian Church will have to rethink its expansion plans. On Monday, a full council chamber witnessed the unan- imous defeat of the church's application to subdivide its land and build additional Sunday school classroom and meeting space. Counct?’s rejection of the scheme comes as a direct result of pressure from. resi- dents who fear increased traf- fic on their streets. The church property, located at 370 Mathers, ts one of the largest in the area, Measuring approximately 81,000 sq. ft., the L-shaped lot is entered via a one-way driveway from) Mathers Avenue. Vehicles exit the property vast on Lawson iW Vaticouver: Astley 1838 W. Brondway Phone 734-4131 S88 Vancouver: Coast Decorating Centre 446-4 Main Stree Phone 872-5275 ii New Westminster: Antique & Oid House Resource Shoppe Avenue and then travel north on 3rd Street, past Hugo Ray Park and back along Mathers. The property can be sub- divided into one single-fami- fy lot and one church proper- ty. Such a subdivision would leave othe church with approximately 69,000 sq. ft. upon which it could expand. The church would alsu like to reconfigure its park- ing lot cto include 26 extra parking spaces. The change would bring the available parking stalls to 71. A tem- orary portable classroom Jocated on the site would have been removed. According to Greg Ball, project architect, funds from the sale of the single-family lor would have paid for the church expansion and park- ing reconfiguration, But the sale of a newly divided, single-family lor would have seen the elimina- tion of the church’s Mathers Avenue access. This point had the major- ity of area residents, particu- lar those on Lawson and 3rd Street, upset. “Most of us are not con- cerned about the building expanding,” said resident Bill Johnston. “(We are con- cerned) about the traffic flow.” Johnston, who was acting as a spokesman for neigh- bours, said the issue was less about parking and develop- ment and more about finane- ing and traffic volume. The neighbours claimed the proposed plan unfairly re-routed traffic past their homes. They objected to a pro- posal to install signs and speed bumps on their strects. “What price are we being asked to pay,” said Johnston. “This started out as a very quiet litle neighbourhood.” He said the subdivision is unnecessary and wants the church to give some thought to raising money in’ other ways. He presented = council with a petition and urged it to reject the proposal. Area residents Howard Whisham and Bob Adams agreed. “These traffic calming ideas are great in theory, but they don’t work in practice,” said Whisham. “They (the church) ‘are going to destroy the look and feel of our street,” said Adams. “But if they just take their time, they can raise their owns funds.” Doug Sabourin, church member and spokesman, wanted the plans to go ahead. He said the church is in need af some immediate repairs and upgrading to access for the disabled. etme Hee #8 Vancouver: Subar Lumber 3637 W. 16th Avenue Phone 224-0434 North Vancouver: Nord Shore Decorating Centre 8716-2601 Westview Drive Phone S63-1420 WSurrey/North Delta: North Detta Paint & Decorating » \Setjamin Mgore&© “The sale of the property is the best (solution) for usin terms of how we fund (the expansion ),” he said. “What we want to do is improve the experience of coming to our church.” But Sabourin and his tel- low worshippers are going to have to find another way. West Vancouver council sent the group back to the drawing board insisting chat they find a way to keep the Mathers Avenue access open. “can't believe that the church's advisors cannot identify a more acceptable solution,” said Coun. Allan Williams. 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