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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-06-24, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 24, 199 Resort areas are bigger targets than here nothing," said Burt. In the case of antiques, he recommends owners find some way of making a unique marking on them tlipt could be described and used to identify the property and have it returned. As part of the new initiatives, he said OPP are stepping up their educational programs. Shropshall hopes they will hear from different community groups interested in learning about how to prevent break and enters. He has already spoken to a group of seniors in Seaforth to help them make their homes more secure. FROM Page 1 at pawn shops in Stratford or Goderich. "When we do see them, we'll have a rash of them," he said. He said Seaforth has been lucky. OPP have seen rings of thieves from larger centres like London target communities, taking property from homes and stores and sellingit for shared profit. While it can happen in Seaforth, Burt said it's just as common to see local individuals break into a home, take what they can and go. Resort areas like Bayfield are more often the targets of choice because there is mote wealth in the community and higher valued items to be found in homes and businesses. In Seaforth, he said Domes are entered more ,often than businesses. Community Services Officer Don Shropshall said they are trying to make people more aware of what can be done to make it harder for people to commit break and enters. "The biggest thing is to make sure they do know the premisis, is locked properly," he said. "Everybody has a habit in this area of keeping their doors open." Most of the break and enters Burt has seen are through a basement window, But in the case of secluded 'homes in the country, he said thieves have gone through front doors 'when they know Students not being left adrift , FROM Rage I 'So far, he has heard from students enrolling in Vanastra's program but not for anything else. He lsuspects he will hear from more students in September, when the program would traditionally start again. McKee encourages students to register at the , high school for the adult education program in an attempt to reach the 15 student minimum that would allow the program to start again. "It could resurface next year" she said. "We're really hopeful we will have students." Despite a lack of students in Seaforth, McKee said the program has a good success rate in the county. In addition to working toward credits, she said there is also a component' available involving employment preparation. In conjunction with Human Resources Development Canada, there is an employment counselor available who works with the students on a job plan. McKee said there has been an 85 per cent success rate with that program in Huron County. And the students experience success in. their classroom work as well. Sharpc's mother, Came, is also a student trying to complete her education to find a job. She has seen her mark in English improve from 66 per cent to 83 as she progressed with thc teachers. She finds herself in the same difficulty as her , daughtcr with subjects like math and science and has benefitted from the attention received. "They take the time to listen to us and help us out," she said. Marlene Roberton is a senior citizen taking a computer, spread sheet course to help understand thc equipment she has at home. While she doesn't need to finish high school, she has worked closely with students working toward that goal and is disappointed to see the program shut down. "We've become like a family here. It's not just academic. We do help each other out," she said. If enough students register at the high school, McKee said, "There is hope. This is not a final situation." no one is at home and they can't be seen. OPP will keep an eye on properties if they are notified the residents are going to be away. When they know the residents are gone, officers on patrol may be able to tell if there's something out of the ordinary at the home. For businesses, Shropshall said the OPP are going to be working with students to update the list of contact numbers police have in the event a break and enter or other incident occurs at a store or business. Seaforth businesses display the contact name in their windows but changes regularly occur at businesses and the OPP want to be sure their information is up to date. Shropshall encourages people to notify the police if contact information has changed. "It would certainly help us an awful lot," he said. Something that helps both the police and victims is if property is identified properly. That means keeping record of the serial number of electronics and appliances and marking, property uniquely so it can be identified to the OPP and items can be returned. 'Without that, you get Simple steps can help prevent thefts A few simple steps can help make a home less likely to be the target of a break and enter. OPP Community Services Officer Don Shropshall recommends the first thing people do is make sure they have a proper, secure lock on their doors. He said doors should be kept locked all the time, even when people are at home. Rooms should be photographed to help identify property if it is stolen and all serial numbers should be recorded. Be cautious of strangers coming to the door and don't be afraid to ask for identification, even from police officers. If the resident is still uncertain, a phone call can be made to help confirm the identity. Shropshall said someone could come in under the pretense of selling a product and ask to go to the washroom. The, person could then unlock and window or back door while they are out of sight, to come back later. The home should be checked regularly to be sure it is secure. • Leaving outside lights on deter would -be - thieves who need to stay out of sight to get inside. Shropshall recommends motion -sensor lights that can be set to come on when someone passed by. He said two interior lights should be left on, preferably on timers, when people are away to create the illusion someone might be inside. Don't hide keys outside your home in obvious places and change the location regularly in case someone is observing the home and its residents' patterns. Never put it under a mat or flower pot. "The first thing I'm going to do is look under a mat," said Shropshall. People in apartments should only keep their last names on mail boxes, particularly if the resident is a single woman. Shropshall said these tips can help deter someone from breaking into a home. He said officers are willing to offer advice to help people make their homes more secure. Obscene messages left on hood of car Brussels Obscene messages _were truck, red, wa stolen from a residence in Tuckersmith Township near Clinton. It was taken during the night of June 12 around 5:45 a.m. It was found later, in Goderich on Picton Street, With the keys in the ignition. No damage was done to the truck. Break, enter, theft from etched onto the hood and top trunk of a vehicle in ' Blyth overnight on June 8. A 1986 Oldsmobile was the target, with the message etched with a key while the vehicle was parked on ' Drummond Street. Theft of truck from Tuckersmith A 1991 Ford pick up Eight cases of beer and a bottle of Peach Schnapps valued at $270 were taken from the Brussels Community Centre after a break and enter on June 15. It occured between 9 p.m. on June 14 and 8 a.m. on June 15. Entry was made through a steel door on the, east side. Stolen car damaged A car, stolen from Toronto, was found abandoned and damaged in Hullet •Township in the Maitland Block area. A resident reported the abandoned vehicle to the OPP on June 14. The entire right side was smashed and the front windshield was out. The steering column had also been damaged. The vehicle was seized and Metro Toronto Police were notified. Mischief in Seaforth The steering column ignition area had been removed from a car parked on High Street in Seaforth June 14. Between 3 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. the owner of the car discovered someone had removed the ignition. Complete Automotive Repair "Class A Mechanic" TIRE SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR ARCHIE'S Service eere CILIA 24 Goderich St. E. 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