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SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
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Property crime on decline
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Abbotsford’s rates lower than neighbours
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Abbotsford News
Abbotsford has a lower rate of property crime than its neighbouring cities, according to statistics released by the Abbotsford Police Department (APD). So far this year, the city has tallied 22.42 property crimes – such as break-ins and car thefts – per 1,000 people. This is the lowest rate among seven other municipalities. Coquitlam is second (25.71), followed by Ridge Meadows (31.1), Vancouver (31.38), Mission (36.87), Surrey (36.88), Langley (37.54) and Chilliwack (40.86). The figures were released last Tuesday during a property-crime presentation at the Abbotsford Police Board. Const. John Janela of the crime reduction unit and APD crime analyst Tracy Van Asseldonk also provided figures showing that, from 2008 to 2012, the city recorded a 70 per cent reduction in business break-ins, a 45 per cent drop in home breakins, and a 73 per cent decrease in stolen cars and thefts from vehicles. Janela said much of those drops can be attributed to a “property crime reduction initiative” established by the APD in 2008. The program currently has six officers and a supervisor, who, in consultation with Van Asseldonk, identify crime trends and target potential offenders. Janela said the APD keeps tabs on known property offenders residing in the community. There are currently more than 100 on their radar and, of those, 14 have been identified as “prolific” offenders
POSITIVE TRASH TREND A3 Abbotsford residents are sending less waste to landfills due to composting program
LFL CANCELS ITS SEASON A21 Former lingerie football league scrubs all of its 2013 games in Canada
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Q Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 JOHN MORROW Abbotsford News
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AbbyFest drew in thousands of people to experience a free multicultural festival Saturday at the Ag-Rec Building in Exhibition Park. The sixth annual event opened with a First Nations welcome and a parade of nations, exhibiting the many flags of the world. The festival celebrated Abbotsford’s diversity with cultural demonstrations, entertainment and food.
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E T A T ES NNING
PLA INAR SEM
WEDNESDAY, OCT.2 10:00 am-12 noon Coast Abbotsford Hotel 2020 Sumas Way
RSVP: SARA 604.556.4044 abbotsfordseminar@gmail.com
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