THEVOICE |

2

Theft
from
cars
down

After a spike in
2016, Vancouver
and Surrey thefts
are dropping

= By JENNIFER WILSON

( . ar break-ins, which on aver-
age cost ICBC and drivers
around $14 million per year,

are down significantly in Vancou-

ver and Surrey, the province’s most
populated cities.

“Theft from auto under $5,000’ is
consistently Surrey’s most reported
category of crime and Vancouver's
second most reported. 2016 saw
a rise of 20 per cent in both cities
however, by the end of the year the
numbers are expected to be down
by as much as 18 per cent in Van-
couver.

Focusing on prolific offenders has
helped reduce these crimes by 14
per cent in Surrey, said Cpl. Scotty
Schumann, media relations officer
at Surrey RCMP.

“We made a significant number
of arrests this year
and last year, all
of people known
to us and that
would have a sig-
nificant effect,”
Schumann said.

Repeat thieves

Scotty Schumann often work spe-
SURREYRCMP — cific neighbour-
SPOKESPERSON hoods and will

target cars that
have visible coins or small items in
the vehicle. Schumann said often,
valuables are just a bonus.

While numbers are down in Van-
couver, Sgt. Jason Robillard of the
Vancouver Police Department said
it id difficult to pinpoint why the
number of reported crimes spiked
last year. He said changes in popu-
lation density could have an effect
on reporting from year to year.

Bryan Kinney, associate professor
at SFU’s School of Criminology
said that when comparing Van-
couver and Surrey, it is important
to remember that both have differ-
ent methods of recording statistics.
However, larger cities have higher
numbers of low-level crimes like
break-ins.

“Crime data are terrible for qual-
ity. Less than 20 per cent of crime
is ever reported to police, especially
less serious crimes, property offenc-
es are typical for non-reporting,”
Kinney said.

In Vancouver, the West End and
the Central Business District have
consistently been the hardest hit
areas of for theft from vehicles. The
VPD is currently promoting its an-
nual Theft-From-Auto Awareness
Campaign downtown.

Paul Goodman, road safety coor-
dinator for ICBC said there are an
average of 13,000 vehicle break-ins
in the province every year, the vast
majority of which take place in the
Lower Mainland.

The most stolen items are smart-

phones, according to ICBC.

TUESDAY, NOV. 28,2017 |

therapy is

Canines

m= By ANA ROSE WALKEY

neluding therapy dogs into

the Service Dog and Guide

Dog Act, which is now only

limited to service or guide
dogs for people with physical dis-
abilities, would make them more
accessible for those who need the
emotional support they can get
from these canines.

Vancouver ecoVillage Society
has submitted a request to several
Greater Vancouver municipalities
requesting that certified therapy
dogs be included in the provincial
legislation which gives these ani-
mals the right to use public spaces,
such as transit.

William Thornton, CEO and co-
founder of British Columbia Guide

Dog Services, said that in many

EDITOR SASHA ZEIDLER

Atlarge

Ah

European countries,

dogs are allowed in places
where they can't go in B.C. munici-
palities. In Switzerland, for exam-
ple, Thornton said dogs are permit-
ted to ride in high speed trains.

“We're a long way away from
that here in B.C. and in Canada,”
Thornton said. “[If] they normally
use public transit and they don't
own a car because they use public
transit, how do they take their dog
to the vet?”

Quille Kaddon, program manag-
er at Vancouver ecoVillage Society,
said the Society wants to take the
issue to the provincial government
to request more access for therapy
dogs.

“We don't need to go into restau-
rants and supermarkets like service

dogs,” Kaddon said. “We just need

Vancouver ecoVillage Society is hoping to get therapy dogs included in the
Service Dog and Guide Dog Act. sugimiTTED PHOTO VIA VANCOUVER ECO VILLAGE

"could be on the move with act change

certain public things open to us.”

Kaddon said being able to use
public transportation will make
life easier for

Vancouver's bylaw office.

Megan McKinnon, a_ Delta
therapy dog owner, said the fee is
prohibitive to

those who use |_ Mu ' “| some.
the services We don t need to g O “The fee
of the society currently is
which _ trains to restaurants and around $100,
h d ° hich I think
for people, supermarkets like vould he lowe
sire seniors, | service dogs. Wejust | sed: MeKin-
emotional need certain public au henapy
support. . ogs Ww. e€
If therapy thing S open to us.” available for
dogs were in- _ students at
cluded in the See UANCOUVERPCLVLLMee Langara Col-
Service Dog [LL _| lege on Tues-
and Guide day, Dec. 5

Dog Act, the cost to license them for De-Stress Week from 11 a.m.
would be removed, according to the - 1 p.m. in the Langara Students’

staff report by the City of North Union building.

surrey on

If provincial funding Is
approved, the city will
be home to B.C.'s first
rail transit system

= By DANICA WALKER

S urrey could become the first
city in British Columbia to
have a light rail network if
provincial fund-
ing is approved.

According to
Paul Lee, the
light rail pro-

“Tt will contribute to
the shape and type

track for light rail network

density development,” Lee said.
‘The federal government has al-
ready committed to giving 40 per
cent of required funds towards a
light rail network in Surrey. The
provincial government is expected
to approve an additional 40 per
cent of the funding by the end of
the year, according to Lee. Where
the last 20 per cent is coming from
is yet to be determined, according
to Fraser Smith general manager
of engineering for the project.
ow -
ever, some
groups are
saying that
light rail is

gram manager of communit we not the pref-
for the City of ” y erable option
Surrey, the light want. for the future
rail will help — PAUL LEE, SURREY LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM of Surrey. Sky-
support the city’s MANAGER Train for Surrey
growing — infra- is a group push-

structure and will provide easy and
accessible transport, encouraging
development of family units in the
city.

“Tt will be a catalyst for medium

ing to expand the train and bus
routes as an alternative to light rail.
Daryl Dela Cruz, campaign chair
for SkyTrain for Surrey, said that a
light rail network would not meet

the needs there are concerns but said that
of Surrey light rail is successful in other cities.
and is not “It is something a little new to

the best use o f
taxpayer dollars.
“We believe
SkyTrain will
help -

the region and people get a little
nervous about it,” Lee said. “It will
contribute to
shape
and type of
communi-
ties that
we want.”
Smith
said if
funding
gets ap-
proved,
the con-
struction

that

completed
in 2023.

con-
tribute to
better out-
comes than this proposed
light rail transit system,”
Dela Cruz said.

Lee understands that

Artistic rendering of the proposed

light rail network in Surrey.
SUBMITTED PHOTO VIA THE CITY OF
SURREY