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THINGS-TO-DO GUIDE: 18
Close May with a community event BOOK CLUB
TC
Fight has been frustrating, May says / Apprentices required for construction FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 Your community. Your stories.
TRI-CITY
NEWS Tri-Cities gears up for Modo car co-op DIANE STRANDBERG Tri-CiTy News
CITY OF PORT MOODY
Port Moody youth services librarian Corene Maret Brown gets down to business for the summer reading club. For more about the Tri-City book clubs see page 14.
CRIME
Uptick in car thefts has RCMP warning residents Older-model vehicles targeted in several areas DIANE STRANDBERG Tri-CiTy News
Coquitlam RCMP is reporting a “huge spike” in thefts of mostly older trucks and cars in recent months and are providing free steering wheel locks to
owners of these vehicles in two areas of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam where the thefts are taking place. Spokesperson Cpl. Jamie Chung said the jump in vehicle thefts mirrors a trend in other jurisdictions and police believe the vehicles are being used to commit thefts in other areas. “We know that there are some prolific offenders who have moved into our area,” Chung said. “They are working
in our area stealing cars.” Police said the jump in car thefts is the worst since 2009 and crime analysis reveals that most of the vehicles are being stolen from areas in west Coquitlam and in north Port Coquitlam. “We are deploying the plainclothes and uniform officers to those hot spots to increase patrols and keep an eye out for suspicious individuals near vehicles,” Chung said.
Between Jan. 1 and May 4, 235 vehicles were reported stolen. Close to half were Fords and Hondas and most vehicles were stolen at night and used to commute locally or to other communities to commit other crimes. The top vehicles stolen are the following: • Honda Civic (1990-’00, ‘04) • Ford F350 (2000-’07) see WHEEL LOCKS, page 16
TRANSIT VOTE
Voters have until 8 p.m. today to cast their ballots in the transit plebiscite: page 13
Modo The Car-Co-op is making inroads into the suburban Tri-Cities with new cars coming to Coquitlam and Port Moody, and with growing interest in Port Coquitlam, said marketing director Selena McLachlan. And the Port Moody resident says the car-sharing co-op is not just for hipsters: Her family has given up the second car in favour of a $500 refundable share purchase with Modo and she pays a $4 hourly rate (plus a small km fee) to use the car, gas included. “Historically, the early adopters have been attracted to car sharing for philosophical reasons: owning less, living more. That’s not the future. The future is in people making what I would call smart, pragmatic decisions.” On the recent May long weekend she used the Modo Prius, located at Knowle Street in Port Moody, a 10-minute walk from her house, for a recreational visit to Vancouver when her 18-year-old borrowed the family car for his own outing. “As a member, I was able to drive for six hours and it cost me $24 dollars, including gas.” The co-op is locally owned by its members who buy the refundable share but casual members can pay a $5 monthly fee instead to use a vehicle, although they pay a higher hourly rate. McLachlan said Modo is becoming popular for those who need a car for outings, such as shopping or appointments, or to supplement their vehicle fleet (business memberships are encouraged). see ‘IT MAKES’, page 4
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