TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2013
www.pqbnews.com
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
BCYCNA
Silver 2011 General Excellence
PLAYOFF TIME!
IT’S THE DOG DAYZ OF WINTER
A33
A24
Generals face Comox: game two here Wednesday night
Event in Combs educational and fun for dogs and their owners
Spike in thievery CRIME
Local police say theft from vehicles increasing NEIL HORNER news@pqbnews.com
Have you had your vehicle broken into lately? If so, you’re not alone. As Oceanside RCMP Corporal Jesse Foreman points out, there has been a recent spike in thefts from vehicles in Oceanside. “In 2012, the Oceanside RCMP received 240 reports of theft from vehicles,� he said. “The start of 2013 looks as though this crime trend is continuing.� This area isn’t unique in this regard. The Insurance Corporation has labeled February as Auto Crime Enforcement Month. According to a release from ICBC, police have made great strides in dealing with auto crime, thanks to their bait car program. Since it was introduced in 2003, auto theft has dropped by 73 per cent in the province and in 2012 and vehicle break-ins have dropped by 62 per cent. The bait car program isn’t the only reason. Legislation requiring all new vehicles to have immobilizers has also played a role, they said. New for this year, B.C.’s bait car program, run by the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT), includes bait property to help prevent theft from vehicles. Bait cars use audio and video technology that allows E-Comm 9-1-1 to monitor real-time activity and help the police catch thieves breaking into vehicles. The police can’t do it all by themselves however. Foreman stressed the need for vehicle owners to take some responsibility for keeping their cars and its contents secure. See FOOT PATROLS, page A6
2,000 Appliances Available Right Here! Why Make The Drive?
“When it’s on sale at Sears, it’s on sale at Sears Parksville�
182 Harrison Ave., Parksville t Locally owned & operated by Dean & Maria Kormylo
Thank you for shopping local. *G XF EPO U IBWF JU JO TUPSF XF MM HFU JU GPS ZPV BOE EFMJWFS JU UP ZPVS EPPS ISLAN MORISON
ST
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Parksville
HARRISON AVE.
Sears MEMORIAL AVE.
ALBERNI HWY
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MCMILLAN ST.
Parksville
NEIL HORNER PHOTO
PENNIES FOR POSTERITY: It’s clear that April Steel is putting pennies in the Pennies for Posterity jar, held by museum manager Netanja Waddell, but it’s less clear whether the Qualicum Beach hermit is putting them in — or taking them out. See story page A7.