www.saanichnews.com • A3
SAANICH NEWS -Friday, December 7, 2012
‘Phone a friend’ helps recover stolen items Kyle Slavin News staff
Kyle Slavin/News staff
Force of nature Pete Friesen, owner of Top Notch Tree Service, removes dismembered pieces of a tree at the University of Victoria, after strong winds uprooted the estimated 150-year-old Garry oak Tuesday morning. Gusts reaching upwards of 93 km/h struck southern Vancouver Island overnight. Nobody was injured as a result of the tree falling.
The teenaged son of a Saanich family that was robbed Sunday helped police quickly solve the crime. The family home, located in the 1600-block of Mortimer St., was broken into sometime in the afternoon on Dec. 2 while the family was out for the day. Upon return around 5:45 p.m., and noticing they had been robbed, they called Saanich police. While an officer was en route to the house, the teenaged son phoned a friend to share the bad news that his Playstation 3, some games, controllers and a laptop had been stolen. That friend, as luck would have it, was hanging out at Mount Douglas secondary with a 16-year-old male who was showing off his recently acquired Playstation, games, controllers and laptop. He passed that information along over the phone. When the attending officer arrived at the Mortimer Street house, the son shared his tip with the cop, who went to Mount Doug and found the teens, in possession of all the stolen items. "It's kinda neat how this worked out," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen. "Apparently it was really that honest. Our patrol (officers) interviewed these teens, and they believe it was just the one kid involved (in the break-in and theft)." A 16-year-old Saanich teen was arrested. He was charged with break and enter with intent. kslavin@saanichnews.com
Saanich to join Island major crime unit Municipality faces tax hike for police to merge with investigative squad Kyle Slavin News staff
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) could soon take on a broader geographic role when four members from the Saanich Police Department join the team. The announcement that Saanich would join VIIMCU came at Monday night’s council meeting from Mayor Frank Leonard, who also chairs the Saanich police board. “This is consistent with our philosophy. We really want a strong, community-based department, and that’s the front end of policing, but we’ve always looked for ways that the support and specialized services be integrated,” Leonard said. The agreement will see three uniformed
officers and one civilian employee join the VIIMCU was up to Chadwick, the chief still Island-wide unit. Those lost positions will needs the blessing of the Saanich police be backfilled, Leonard says. board and council, come budget season Sgt. Dean Jantzen, speaking on behalf next year. Taxpayers will be on the hook of Chief Const. Mike Chadfor an estimated $400,000 wick, says the removal of per year as part of joining “That’s almost three investigative officers VIIMCU. half a per cent of a from the department will not “That’s almost half a per adversely affect Saanich resi- tax increase ... This is cent of a tax increase,” the dents. said. “Sometimes (financially) a difficult mayor “We will not be compromis(council) will be split at the ing our investigative capac- decision.” municipal budget side on ity,” he said. decisions that are $5,000 –Frank Leonard Under an existing conand $6,000. This is (finanSaanich mayor tract, the Saanich police cially) a difficult decision.” department investigates Jantzen said there is no many crimes that occur in Oak Bay. Once specific rationale for deciding to join the approved, VIIMCU will cover major crimes team in 2013, other than that VIIMCU now in Saanich and Oak Bay. has a proven investigative track record else“Our understanding is Saanich’s decision where on the island. to join VIIMCU means we’re going to be “It’s not that we’ve been ignoring taken into the fold,” said Oak Bay deputy (VIIMCU) up to now. We’ve been watching police chief Kent Thom. Oak Bay is not con- what they’re doing,” he said. “When you tributing officers to the unit. drill right down, rather than the chief asking Leonard says while the decision to join for (money in the budget for) four new con-
stables, he asked to join this unit to invest in this increased investigative capacity.” Rumours have been circulating for years about Saanich police joining VIIMCU. In November 2011, Jantzen told the News that talks were underway. “There’s been no dramatic change in philosophy ... we’ve reviewed this on a yearly basis since (VIIMCU’s) inception,” he said in 2011. “We now believe the factors exist where there is a net benefit to our community.” Eighteen officers currently make up the integrated unit, formed in 2007. Six come from Victoria, two from the West Shore RCMP, and the remaining 10 are from various Island RCMP detachments. Unsolved major crimes in Saanich – like the 2008 murder of Lindsay Buziak – won’t be taken over by VIIMCU for investigation. While no firm dates have been set, Leonard anticipates Saanich officers will be part of the unit in early 2013. – with files from Black Press kslavin@saanichnews.com
DINNER CONVERSATION DIFFICULT?
Maybe it’s time to get your hearing checked before the holidays. Hearing loss affects one in two people over the age of 50. Book a complimentary hearing screening today and try hearing aids for two weeks at no cost, and no obligation.* Hear every special sound this holiday season – save 10% on Everyday Listening Products including phones, TV listening devices, and alarm clocks from November 1st to December 31st.
Royal Oak McKenzie
connecthearing.ca 4456 - A West Saanich Rd. 106 - 1595 McKenzie Ave.
250.953.9979 250.477.3649
VAC, WCB accepted.
*No fees and no purchase necessary. Some conditions apply. See clinic for details. Registered under the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC.®CAA and CAA logo trademarks owned by, and use is granted by, the Canadian Automobile Association. Show Your Card & Save® is owned by, and use is granted by, the American Automobile Association.
HEARING AIDS
2 WEEK
FREE TRIAL + Price Match Guarantee Exclusive discounts available to our national partners.