Times-Advocate, 1988-03-23, Page 5'Crime Stoppers'
begins in Huron
By Lou -Ann DeBruyn
A program which will benefit
Huron County in the solving and
prevention of crime was officially
opened last week in Godcrich.
Opening ceremonies for Crime
Stoppers of Huron County were
held Thursday morning at the Hu-
h m County Courthouse in the pro-
vincial court room with a number
of dignitaries in attendance.
"Crime Stoppers is a program
that involves the citizen in helping
solve crimes. It is not a police pro-
gram," Inspector W.E. Trachscl, of
the No. 6 District Ontario Provin-
cial Police (OPP) detachment in
Mt. Forest, said to those persons in
attendance at the ceremony.
He said the lack of a complete
Huron County Crime Stoppers pro-
gram, as well as similar programs
to Perth and Wellington counties,
was evident when the district's pro-
grams were reviewed in 1987. In-
spector Trachsel has been oversee-
ing the creation of Crimc Stoppers
programs in the three counties
since that time.
He noted the program, which has
its origins in a similar program op-
erated in the United States, is a
"very important community pro-
gram."
How program works
"Today is the beginning of an
important program. Crime Stop-
pers is a program that involves the
citizen in helping solve crimes. It
is not a police matter. Crimes are
solved and prevented and everyone
benef is," he said.
The program operates on the ba-
sis -of anonymous callers and reward
money, OPP Constable Jeff Sabin,
co-ordinator of the Huron County
program said. He explained how the
process works. Anyone who calls
Crime Stoppers with information
on a crime is assigned a code num-
ber in order to keep his identity se-
cret. A reward is issued, at the dis-
cretion of the program's board of
directors, to a caller whose informa-
tion has helped lead to an arrest.
Anonymity is still maintained
when rewards arc collected. The
caller is given a place and time to
meet a board mcmbcr who will
hand over the money when a code
number is repeated. The member's
clothing is also described to the.
caller to make the meeting go
smoothly. However, it is not the
caller who picks up the money but
rather, for example, the spouse or
good friend. This guarantees the in-
formant's anonymity.
Inspector Trachscl told those peo-
ple gathered the program has been
successful in other areas.
"The Grey -Bruce Crime Stoppers
program, since its inception, has led
to 18 arrests and 50 cases cleared,"
he said.
The program relies on the efforts
and the working together of the peo-
ple in the community, the media
and the police.
"This is not strictly a police ef-
fort. It is a combination of commu-
nity, media and police," Dave Her-
bison, chairman of the Crime
Stoppers Board of Directors, said.
"It gives the opportunity of peo-
ple in the community to see what is
being done in the protection and
prevention of crime and allows
them to have input into it," Herbi-
son added.
Thursday's ceremony was de-
scribed as being "a memorable occa-
sion" and "the beginning of an im
portant program." For residents of
Huron County, it is a step forward
in fighting crime.
"It is beneficial (Crime Stoppers),
not only in solving crime but pre-
venting crime and I'm sure that will
be the case in the County of Hu-
ron," Godcrich Mayor Eileen Palm-
er said.
The Crime Stoppers office for
Huron County is located in Clinton
in the Clinton Police Department.
Office telephones are manned during
office hours, Monday through Fri-
day. The toll free number is 1-800-
265-1777.
"It is important to realize that it
is a county effort and is not centered
in any one arca," Herbison said, ad-
ding, "Constable Sabin's Clinton
office is central to all Huron Coun-
ty communities."
Board members
During Thursday's ceremony,
Judge Francis C. Carter, district
court judge, conducted the swearing
in of the 15 Crime Stoppers board
members.
The members are (with the area of
representation in brackets): Chair-
man Dave Herbison (Goderich), Ken
Cardno (Seaforth), David Cameron
(Wingham), Ross Ribcy (Seaforth),
Jim Hoffman (Dashwood), David
Urlin (Exeter), Butch Desjardine
(Bayfield), Carole Robinson (Gode-
rich), Judy Dixon (Clinton), Paul
Scebach (Clinton), Doug Sholdice
(Brussels), Taylor Lambert (Gode-
rich), Cliff McDonald (Goderich),
Steve Cooke (Clinton), and Eric
Finchcr (Godcrich).
Persons participating in the open-
ing ceremonies included: OPP Con-
stable Jeff Sabin, Huron Cc• my
Crime Stoppers co-ordinator; Judge
Francis C. Carter, district court
judge; Godcrich Mayor Eileen
Palmer; Inspector W.E. Trachsel
No. 6 District OPP Mount Forest;
Warden Robert Bell of Huron Coun-
ty; Chief Lloyd Westlake, Clinton
Police Department; and Dave Herbi-
son, chairman of the Crime Step-
pers Board of Directors.
Crime Stoppers
Crime Stoppers are requesting
information about thieves who
have broken into two home in
Stephen Township since the be-
ginning of February and the 6th of
March, 1988. Police believe
these cases; located at RR2 Dash-
wood arc related.
In one case a window was bro-
ken and the stolen property was
carried'out the kitchen door to a
waiting vehicle.
All items stolen from this home
were antiques including a seven -
foot tall china cabinet with two
glass doors, two doors, and two
cupboards, a washstand with pink
ceramic sink with a mirror and
several other items totalling
$3,000 in value.
Several different vehicles may
have been used during these break
and enters. One vehicle that might
be involved is described as a
midsize GM two -door car, ma-
roon in colour with a sloping back.
If you have any information
about this or any other serious
crime call CRIME STOPPERS
OF HURON COUNTY toll-free
at 1-800-265-1777. You could
earn a cash reward of up to $1,000
if the information leads to an ar-
rest. Callers will not be required to
identify themselves nor testify in
court.
All you need to remember
about home comfort is
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Times -Advocate, March 23, 1988
Page 5
Spring
Break
program
MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT - Marvelle called Eileen Knipp out of the au-
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Magic show
at
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IT'S MAGIC - All those gazes - entranced, puzzled, amused
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