Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Scott McKeen Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) FEW DEGREES OF SEPARATION BETWEEN AUTO THEFT AND DRUG TRADE Mine is an Apple PowerBook laptop computer, company issue, a sleek and elegant writing machine in metallic silver. In the wrong hands -- smash-and-grab hands -- such a thing is worth a few days of cocaine rapture or crystal-meth oblivion. Last Friday, I left my laptop on the front seat of my car, in its case, on an inner-city street. This week, I learned just how lucky I was. Edmonton Police Chief Mike Boyd invited people from government, business and the media to participate in a day-long community crime congress on an issue, theft from autos, that at first blush seems beneath contemplation. Aren't car break-ins the least of our worries, given our big-city armed robberies, crime gangs, meth labs and murders? Yes, thefts from autos are minor. But petty crime, we learned, is at the foundation of the criminal food chain and separated only by degrees from the international drug trade. Boyd's community-policing congress focused on downtown, where thefts from autos jumped 89 per cent in the last five years. Downtown, by its nature, has the highest density of parkades and parking lots, many of them poorly designed and lacking in security. On top of that, downtown is within walking distance of most inner-city drug houses and remains the 'hood for many of this city's homeless, desperate and addicted souls. So who breaks into cars? The typical offender is 12 to 20 years old, of no fixed address and addicted to meth or crack. Typically, they steal valuables from cars and fence the hot goods. But not to pawn shops, as you might think. A video shown at the congress featured a drug-house dealer who said 90 per cent of his clients pay in stolen property. Much of it comes from cars, which are easy targets. While locking your car is no guarantee, thieves will check a parking lot first for unlocked doors. They'll also pop trunks. But the chances of a break-in increase if your valuables -- including ID cards -- are visible from the outside of the car. Then, a simple screwdriver is all they need to get in. Delegates were asked to brainstorm ideas to reduce thefts from autos by 25 per cent this year. The ideas? Mostly common sense. But common sense is not as common as you'd hope. One of the major recommendations was a public education campaign to help reduce the supply of stolen goods. The public, we felt, didn't understand the nature and scope of the problem. How many of us, for example, knew that car break-ins were a byproduct of more serious problems, the proliferation of street drugs? We felt the public needed a reminder that simple measures -- locking doors and removing valuables -- was a strong crime-prevention measure. But apathy is a problem. Perhaps because we bloody well expect insurance companies to pay for our losses. Some delegates even felt the victims of car break-ins should be penalized, as an incentive to secure valuables. But the majority thought a comprehensive campaign of public education -- even free security audits of cars by police -- was more valuable. Another major theme was in "target hardening" parking lots with better security, lighting and visibility, to deter offenders. Incentives could be given, or minimum standards legislated. Much of the discussion focused on the police and courts. One problem for police is that the courts are loath to incarcerate offenders, especially minors, for property offences. A break-in artist can be arrested and released on the same day, even a repeat offender. It's also difficult for the courts to order offenders into drug rehabilitation programs. And even if there were a simpler way, there'd be little point. Edmonton is sadly lacking in treatment beds. One police analyst conceded that even if Edmonton reduced car break-ins by 25 per cent, the offender-addicts would just shift to shoplifting or some other form of thievery. The crime problem would simply be displaced because the demand for drugs remains the same. Not that I believe the day was fruitless. I commend Chief Boyd for tapping the community's creativity. We all walked out knowing more about the police's problems -- more, perhaps, than we wanted to know. At the congress, we were given cards to write down our crime-fighting ideas. I was tempted to write: Eliminate poverty and despair. Until then, lock your doors and take your valuables with you. The despair might continue. But at least your property will be safe. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman