THE CASE of the missing iguana has been solved. Stolen by a brazen thief fast month at a North Vancouver pet store, the four- foot-long lizard was found by Vancouver Police detectives Friday while investigating the armed robbery of a Vancouver gas sta- tion. When police went to arrest a suspect, they found a room full of reptiles. North Shore News carrier and Pet Boutique employee Kevin Stachow displays the large, sharp-clawed creature. Bonose back at Pet Boutique Four-foot-long iguana found following police investigation A MUCH-loved lizard, lifted from a Lower Lcnsdale pet store last month, has been reunited with its owner following Vancouver Police investigation of a gas sta- tion robbery on Friday. Bonose, a four-foot-long ig- uana belonging to Pet Boutique owner Winston Wing, was found by police detectives when they went to a Vancouver house to arrest a robbery suspect. On Friday morning, two men armed with knives robbed a Shell gas station at 49th Avenue and Kerr Street. The trail led to a Doman Street house, where one of the rob- By Michael Becker News Reporter bery suspects had been visiting. Police found a room cor- taining iguanas and snakes The large lizard stood out among the smaller reptiles in the room. The detectives remembered press coverage of the North Vancouver iguana abduction and called North Vancouver RCMP to connect with the animal's owner. Wing, his wife and four police officers armed with a search warrant subsequently identified and retrieved the stolen pet. Said Wing, happy ending, you see.'” But police have yet to determine who ac- tually abducted the iguana. Wing suid the iguana was well looked after during its stay in Vancouver. ‘*They had a big tree for it, a sun lamp," ke said. But the lizard did lose about half a pound in weight. Wing swears that ‘there was a vague recognition’ on the part of the iguana when he was reunited with his owners. ‘tHe didn't shy away from us. He inows my wife, knows me. As soon as we put him back in his cage and familiar surroundings he knew exactly what to do,”’ he said. “it's a The pet store operator claims ita Muke that he even got the animal back. “My experience has been that with most people who lose exotic pets, they never do see them again. Tf they hadn't ar- tested this guy for robbing a gus station, there's no way. They were going to keep him. He was well-looked after. The house was a pig sty, but the iguana room was pretty clean,” Wing said. He thanks the police and the many well-wishers who offered support following the theft. “Everybody missed the ig- uana very much, and we're so happy we got him = back.The kids enjoy it. The schools come here with their kids and we demonstrate the iguana. It's quite an education for the public,”” he said. Owners can take preventive measures From page 1 thieves. The Crown corporation is also entering into the Combat Auto Theft (CAT) program with the B.C. Automobile Association i Budget Beaters... @ Business ®@ Frugal Gourmet @ Lifestvles..... 3 North Shore Now and local police departments. Drivers participating in the pro- gram put decals on their vehicles that allow police to stop the vehi- cle if it is being driven at a certain time during the night. STV Listings @ What's Going On Zap Second Class Registration Number 3885 **There are a nuinber of reasons why people steal cars. They steal them to joy ride, they steal them to commit crimes like drive-by shootings, they steal them for parts — which we call chop shops, Weather Thursday & Friday, sunny. Highs 24°C. and they steal them to export to other areas,”* said Hardie. Blais said there are several measures car owners can take to prevent the theft of their vehicles. One is to turn the wheels of the car toward the curb and lock the steering wheel. “Tt jams your wheels. You can also change your locks from the pop-up kind to the slim-looking ones that you can’t use a coat hanger on,”’ said) Blais. ‘You should also park in a Jit area and don’t leave any valuables in the car.” . Blais said anyone looking for more ips on car-theft: prevention gan contact him at the North Vancouver RCMP detachment 4t 985-1311. Violence worries Tribal Council DRUG AND alcohol-related violence is beginning to wreak havoc on the Squamish Indian Band, a band member said this week. By Surj Rattan News Reporter Those attempting to keep the peace on the reserve have been met by acts of vandalism and dearh threats. Sam George. acting chairman of the Squamish [Tribal Council, said a gang of about a dozen youths who live on the reserve have been breaking into the band offices and vandalising other band members’ personal property. He blamed the problem on drugs and alcohol. “ht alarms me. It's no secret thai they’re spending all their money on drugs, especially co- caine,’ said George. ‘We con- fronted one youth and he didn’t think what they are doing is a4 problem. That's the kind of at- titude they have.”* George is one of several volun- teer peacekeepers appointed by the tribal council, While they wear uniforms, they do not carry weapons. They patrol the reserve in their own vehicles and are on call 24 hours a day. George said he and other peacekeepers have had death threats made against them because of what they are doing. “Ive been told things like ‘You're dead. We have a bullet for you’. They've shot at my house and broken my windows and damaged my vehicles,"’ said George. “Other band members have also had threats made against them."' George said he does not know what can be done to curb the vio- lence. whick usually invalves fights resulting from parties. “We know there have been big cocaine and drinking parties going on. It happens guite often,”’ said George. “These kids are not con- cerned about the trouble they're causing. They're more concerned about what goes up their nose and what they're drinking,”” he said. North Vancouver RCMP Const. Marty Blais, who works closely with the band, said one of the problems is that the peacekeepers sometimes fail to call the police when there is trouble. “The peacekeepers are doing an excellent job, Unfortunately, the peacekeepers don't call us all the time. They sometimes venture into a situation where they don't think they need our help,’’ said Blais. West Vancouver Police Const. Bernie Ball said he has noticed an increase in violent incidents com- ing from the Squamish reserve during the past two weeks. He added that several incidents were reported on Friday night. ‘First we had 10° people fighting and they were carrying clubs. It was liquor related. Then there was another incident where a female was beaten in the head at a party. It too was alcohol related and charges are pending,” said Ball. “Later on that night there was a call of two guys fighting and a third guy came in and stabbed them both. Charges are pending in that one. On Saturday, there was another brawl, “All we can really do is) res- pond. Maybe if we can get these guys through the court system, we can get the bad guys off the street.”” said Ball.