THE POLICE statistic tells it best — last year in.North Vancouver, the local RCMP detachment recorded a 19 per cent increase in residential break and enter rates over 1986

and 1985; ae

in an effort to constructively deal with a victimized community and fight back with the support of local citizens, the police depart- ment’s-Crime Prevention Section has allocated ‘manpower | and money-to set ‘up a. Block Watch Program in North Vancouver.

The detachment has chosen. this week, officially designated Police |

Week, to begin its push to get the’

public actively involved in the pro- . Block . Watch programs. are . already’ in place in Burnaby, Sur- fey and Coquitlam ° The concept, involving. residerits who. in’ ¢ffect - become the, com- munity eyes and ‘ears for police,”

’ received approval from ‘both North ‘and criminally associated activities»

~.< Vancouver. City. and. North. Van-. |, couver District i in February. ° _» Said. North" Vancouver’ RCMP ‘Const: : Cliff: Doherty, the ‘man assigned to. pull’ the © program’: “Stogether--locally:: ‘*Doth . ; municipalities © have - provided » a, commitment to. support the: pro-.

for at least three years. It has

“\ been’ a number of years since home”

. Secutity: has:been’ ‘actively pursued © 7 ‘on ‘this scale, Becaitse of the break:

the’ ore xs) , valuables and Sighbors protecting

“ neighbors.

an apartment’. “building: form a

‘communication: chain. ‘The chain is‘ supported by: ‘a’ bloc P ‘map umber:

By MICHAEL 8 Mews Reporter

and addresses. In an cffort. to reduce the. likelihood of burglary and other crimes, suspicious activi- ties. are reported. to police and - neighbors.

“The Block Watch. is launched ' when a member of a block or apartment complex arranges for an RCMP. officer to .speak to members in a neighborhood...

The police spokesperson °pro- ~ ’ yides tips’ on tightezing up home

: security, the marking of valuables,

“protective - window and: door decals, a description ‘of suspicious

, and information. on: how to report,

" Suspicious occurrences and provide :

accurate descriptions. ‘Said Doherty: ‘‘The police can't

‘be everywhere at once. We are ia a.

war against crime. The public and.

* police must. join forces to win this” '

_war.”’ The individual arranging the iz

jal. Block Watch meeting may be. , - designated. block ‘captain. A repre-”

sentative “of. the < local) RCMP

“detachment will call the block cap-;

‘tain he block to very B on activities’

st of suspicious . autos,’ people: te) watch ® for:

‘crime prevention” 5

NORTH) VANCOUVER: RCMP

Const. Clif Dokerty expisins to North. Vancouver resident: Nancy

McKerracher how . a « deadbolt’ : works ‘to secure doorway” access.

McKerracher: sad acighbors © gathered, to: bear about. the new Block | Watch ‘program being "established « in the community by _ the police deiachment.: , ‘

35 - Sunday, May 15, 1988 -

: Treat guests equally

PAGE 36

North Shore News