HELPING CITIZENS TO FIGHT CRIME

Police Plan Seminars on Preventive Tactics

CITY police launched a renewed blitz yesterday to get Winnipeggers
more involved in crime prevention.

Const. Lynn Letozke said yesterday the crime prevention unit will host
12 public seminars in the next six weeks to teach homeowners how to
protect themselves and their neighbours from new crime trends.

The seminars will advise on how to protect yourself from identity
theft and fraud and how to spot marijuana grow operations and
clandestine drug labs.

Letozke said that in the past, police focused more on residential home
security, but found people want more information on other types of
crime.

In response, the police service has prepared an 80-page crime
prevention handbook to give to each person attending a seminar.

Also included are tips on how to prevent auto theft, personal safety
on the street and forming Neighbourhood Watch programs. Letozke said
Neighbourhood Watch programs have fallen off in the past couple of
years and police want to revitalize them.

"It's certainly no secret we need the public's assistance and help be
our second eyes and ears," he said. "We're happy for any
participation."

False security

He added that people with home burglar alarms may have a false sense
of security. They might think that if they turn on the alarm, they
don't have to tell their neighbour they're going away.

He said the result is the home could be broken into and the alarm
triggered, but no one pays attention to it until it's too late.

"It's about looking after each other's property," Letozke said in
describing the benefit of a Neighbourhood Watch program. The crime
awareness seminars, which include a one-hour Power Point presentation,
will be held:

* Oct. 4 at Gateway Recreation Centre, 1717 Gateway
Rd.

* Oct. 11 at Sturgeon Creek Collegiate, 2665 Ness Ave.

* Oct. 12 at Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba, 737 Keewatin
St.

* Oct. 18 at East End Community Club, 517 Pandora Ave.

* Oct. 19 at Daniel McIntyre High School, 720 Alverstone
Ave.

* Oct. 19 at Shaftsbury School, 2240 Grant Ave.

* Oct. 24 at Garden City Community Centre, 725 Kingsbury
Ave.

* Oct. 25 at Dakota Collegiate, 661 Dakota * Nov. 1 at Westdale
Community Club, 550 Dale Blvd.

* Nov. 2 at Louis Riel Arts and Technical Centre , 5 DeBourmont
Ave.

* Nov. 8 at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate, 181 Riverton
Avenue

* Nov. 15 at Church of the Rock, 1397 Buffalo Place.

Each meeting starts at 7 p.m.

The presentations are also listed on the Winnipeg Police Service
website, www.winnipeg.ca/police, under Crime Awareness Presentations.