W. VAN COPS REROUTE ADDICTS

West Vancouver Police Department (WVPD) officers consider the
three-week long Operation Night Watch program a solid success.

The summer program was set up to catch drug addicts coming to West
Vancouver on the Lions Gate Bridge to commit crimes. Sgt. Bob Fontaine
said the program was designed to intercept known crystal
methamphetamine addicts who would commit burglaries and car break-ins
in the early morning. Between July 7 and July 28, Fontaine said police
arrested nine people. Recommended charges included impaired driving,
five break and enters, robbery, possessing break-in tools, possessing
stolen property, possessing drugs and three probation breaches. The
program was operated with ICBC and included the use of two bait cars.
Roadblocks were set up on the bridge and cyclists crossing the bridge
who were not wearing helmets were stopped.

"The program opened the eyes of some of our younger police officers
and got them used to watching for people who, by their very
appearance, just don't fit the area," said Fontaine. He said WVPD has
been plagued by a steady stream of methamphetamine addicts who steal
cars in Vancouver and go to West Van to do break-ins. The addicts
would abandon the cars and steal more cars to return to Vancouver's
East side, said Fontaine.