POLICE IN WEST VAN TARGET THIEVES FROM VANCOUVER

A campaign to protect West Vancouver residents from Vancouver thieves is paying
dividends, say police.

They have stepped up roadblocks and surveillance on the Lion's Gate Bridge in
the wake of a dramatic jump in break-ins of homes, apartments and cars.

Police suspect the criminals are addicts displaced by the crackdown by
Vancouver police on the Downtown Eastside.

"As a result [of the increase crime] it's standard practice for us now is to be
vigilant of who comes over the bridge," West Vancouver Sgt. Tim Pollitt said
yesterday. "Most of them are methamphetamine addicts."

"We've brought on extra members and we have undercover units working during
certain time periods more often now," he said.

Officers spotted three men on bicycles riding into West Vancouver at 3 a.m.
Friday and one of them had break-and-enter tools.

A 25-year-old man of no fixed address faces charges of possessing break-in
tools and breaching a probation order.

The VPD crackdown on drug dealers in the Downtown Eastside has also moved the
problem to the West End and the neighbourhood around Seymour, Dunsmuir,
Granville and West Pender.