Dear Editor: We can’t always beat the bad guys when it comes to petty thieves but maybe we can make it a littl more diffi- cult. A word of warning unsuspecting purse carriers: Earlier this week [ took a brief lunch break at a bustling cafeteria-style restaurant ina nice area on Granville Street. Which is neither here nor there because the thieves are probabty stealing from inno- cent peuple in Richmond by now, Gr Maple Ridge. Or Neison. The point is what hap- pened. I choose a table against a wall and settled in with read- ing material, a snack and a glass of water, placing my purse and umbrella under the table berween my feft foot and the svall. Halfway through my lunch I noticed a fellow about 30- something looking at me. to Good looking, clean cut, short hair, leather jacket, bedy-building type, nicely dressed, Caucasian bue with dark eves and dark hair. Nothing suspicious about him, he just keeps looking at me from his seat a few tables in front of me. [ continue reading. Every so ofien Md take a bite of lunch and he catches my eve. P start to feel the pres- ence of someone behind me to my right, leaning on a counter, Meanwhile the restaurant seems so busy with several men all about the same age and build coming and going from a nearby side entrance that factually think to myself, “where are all these people going?” Something again makes me giance over my shoulder to my right, looking at the fellow standing around, fiddling with a piece of paper. Int thinking he’s probably Canada is being run by imbeciles Open letter to columnists : Trevor. Lautens, Leo . Knight and Noel Wright: 1 appreciate: your contri- butions to the North Shore News. Just a few journalists today provide the readers with the logic, common sense and the selection of topics as you do. - And I do have no doubts that the prosperity of this “country, its relatively (with respect to. Europe, e.g.) young culture, the security of all citizens, as well as the application of the law, secking the truth only and nothing bur the truth is the driving force of your journalistic work. Believe me, I really appreciate your efforts very much. But... I do have a very sad feel- ing that your work is, under the present circumstances, turning ‘into-an_ intellectual _ ¢nergy loss. Why? cause our representa- tives. in the provincial and federal - governments are doing whatever they would . like to do-with no respect to the majority of people and their opinions that they should represent. _ Nothing can support this statement better than. the fact, that no party (with exception of Reform, which now, by the activity of Preston Manning and_ his United Alternative idea is “going to weaken itself) had in . the election program the nec- essary changes in Young Offenders Act, immigration - dolicy, income tax and justice systems. _ Am 1 wrong and halluci- nating? Is. there any hint noticeable that the govern- ment is going to do some- thing about these critical issues? Of course, the govern- ments are elected by the peo- ple. And some people might still be happy about the state of the affairs in this country. [ do not have any figures ii hand abour that. But, as an example, I am pointing out the recent telephone survey about the Nisga’a treaty, 99% of — British = Columbians opposed the treaty in its pre- sent form. Despite such a strong negative response I will be surprised if Otrawa changes its mind in this mat- ter. Don’t take me wrong. You do a very useful job and, please, continue to do so. But, | do have a very strong feeling, supported by the realiry, that the democra- cy in Canada suffered a big blow; your efforts are, unfor- tunately, just a cry in’ the wilderness. There are still many, many beautiful things we can and are appreciating in this coun- try (called the best in the world). But, judging by today’s trends and the actions of our government, one is rightfully worried, more and more and for good reasons. Worried about the future prosperity of this country. Just the recent issues: han- dling the matter of illegal immigrants or the proposed allocation of the funds to the millionaires of the NHL instead of to much more deserving fields (e.g. health care) show how. unbelievably ignorant our present govern- ment is. Viadimir Cicha North Vancouver MAIL Box-————— Purse-snaich just filled out a job application and is waiting for someone to talk to. Time to go. T take a last sip of water, put my ceat on and reach tor my purse. No purse, Can't be, it was next to my foot by my umbrella. My umbrella is there. No purse. People coming and going, coming and going. Wow, Pve been robbed. Run to the man- ager, yell a bit nobody saw anything. No purse. Cellphone, keys, money credit cards, drivers licence, the works gone. Plus the litthe Chaistmas card with the $100 bill my mom gave me to buy boots with. I feel sick. Customers and staff mem - bers at acighbouring tables lvok at me pitifully, volunteer- ing that they never saw a thing. [stand in disbelief, humili- ated, clutching my umbreila as if it’s my last: possession on earth and stare at the floor beneath the table as if my purse might reappear. fuse the restaurant phone and cancel whatever [can think of. The restaurant calls the police, who offer the phone number for these kinds of crime. There’s nor much they can do. Back at work [ receive a phone call from a gentleman who has found my purse, along with someone else's wallet, about cight blocks away. Says it was tossed into his backyard. His heavy broken accent somewhat restores my faith in people, at least a little, 1 col- lect my purse, now empty of credit cards, cash and driver’s licence. The kiad man tells me the other woman had already claimed her belongings and described her experience. Same scenario, they got her Take responsibility for your actions Dear Editor: Re: Janice Mucalov’s article, “Property owner may be faulted for falls” (Feb. 13 News). | absolutely applaud the judge in Port Moody who disagreed with a citizen’s lawsuit regarding a fall on snow and ice at the Port Moody recreation centre. People need to take more responsibility for their actions. I agree that businesses and residents need to make their premises reasonably safe for visi- tors but a limit should be expected. [f that Port Moody citizen truly felt that ce rec centre parking lot was unsafe for her to tra- verse across then she should not have attempted it. If she fell by accident then call it what it was — an accident. Business owners or fellow residents cannot be expected to hand-hold us in every regard. Reasonable safety is the key. { really appreciate it when businesses and residents shovel their sidewalk, but I also know that ice and snow can be extremely slip- pery and if I accidentally fall, whether it’s on the city sidewalk, a business entrance or my own driveway — it’s my own damn fault! Ms. Mucalov, a iawyer, advises us that “if you've hurt yourself in a fall, consult a lawyer to determine your fegal rights.” [t seems that many in this society are quick to blame others without claiming responsibility for their own actions and articles/advertisements like this perpetuate such thoughts. Michelle Sevigny North Vancouver - Deda Gfeenis pkased to intrednce ap associzi: to his fay and general dental practice Dr Tess Keeble i We provide comprehersite restorative, prosthetic, cosmetic and preventite” dental services for both adults and children. (ffce tours 7230em 430m Monti Welcoming new pationts and referrals. 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But what is alarming is this ring of good-looking petty thieves who work as a team and are slick enough to steal your handbag from under your nose. The police department asked me if J actually saw someone take my purse. No. That's how good these guys are. Hindsight: there must have had a thicd guy who would have been quietly lurk- ing behind me to my left, snaring my purse while T was being subtly distracted for- wards and to the right. Did the bad guys win? Yeah, that time. But now that you know how they work, they might not get your purse. G. Hildred West Vancouver ASK JEFF Expert Acivice on et Cleaning } Does your com- a pany have a code of ethics? f We, the owners, aa managers and f employees of this B firm are proud of our pro- E fession and of the profes- slonalism we display in the cleaning and restoration - @ work that we perform. We are committed to our obligation in providing the B best pessible service to all 4 our customers. We believe that ail our transactions gq should be fair and honest. B We pledge to steadfastly avold any false or mistead- ing represeniation of our products or services. We value our. place in the community and recognize our responsibilities as local business people. We sup- port the ainis and objec- H tives of the Association of H Specialists in Cleaning and r Restoration (ASCR) and 8 participate in efferts E toward advancement of § 4 our industry through its . programs and services. fi We therefore subscribe to B this Cede of Ethics and will conduct our business B affairs accordingly. £ Upholstery, stains 8° Molcis, mildew oder § © Flood/water damage ff