LangleyAdvance
Future of farming pg A3
Your community newspaper since 1931
Thursday, May 12, 2011
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Langley City
Robbery numbers jump
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Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance
Vehicles coming around a blind corner and down a hill worry riders at the horse crossing south of High Point.
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South Langley
Blind corner threatens horses Equestrian safety, street racing, and crime concerns spilled out at a public hearing. by Matthew Claxton
05180696_853_P1
mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
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When Langley Township council asked for input on the future of the intersection of 200th Street and Zero Avenue, it got a whole mess of other issues dumped on its plate. Several local equestrians complained that the horse trail surrounding much of the High Point housing development at the foot of 200th Street has an unsafe road crossing. Robin Austin was one of several riders who questioned the safety of the crossing at the foot of the steep hill that rises up to the border and Zero Ave. Above it, the road curves sharply to the left. Austin said the crossing was poorly designed. “Traffic and speed do not mix with horses and people,” she said. Along with other riders, she said it can be difficult to see cars coming down the hill.
Several people said they have to stop, listen intently, and then cross. But even then, there are close calls, as cars hit high speeds down the steep incline. Horses, the riders explained, can’t simply accelerate, especially on asphalt, to get away from a speeding car. Haidee Landry, vice-president of the Canadian Quarter Horse Association, suggested moving the crossing north, where it’s easier to see traffic. Guntram Zell suggested installing a signalized horse crossing, with a button at the height of a mounted rider, that would warn drivers of horses in the intersection. Residents of High Point and surrounding properties also told council that street racing has become a problem. Councillor Kim Richter said this was the first time anyone mentioned that issue to council. Several residents also said they’ve had problems with drug use in the area. Apparently, the deadend street and rural location is attracting young people looking for a quiet spot. Read more about residents’ concerns at the 200th Street and Zero Avenue intersection on page A4.
Policing
Curfew offenders facing charges
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Police knocked on doors to check on those ordered by the courts to be at home.
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by Matthew Claxton
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mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
The Langley RCMP did a curfew check sweep at the end of April, and a number of people could be facing charges. During a check run on April 29, 35 local residents were checked, and eight were not at home during court-ordered hours, said
Cpl. Holly Marks of the Langley RCMP. Those out and about when officers came knocking may now face criminal charges, which in some cases could return them to jail. There are dozens of people in Langley who are bound by court orders, either while awaiting trial or after being convicted and released. They are usually bound to a curfew, told to be in their homes after a certain time, unless at work. Working with Langley
Probation, the RCMP have begun conducting regular sweeps, four times a year, to check up on those under curfews. The checks are part of the Safe Homes Safe Communities program, one of the local RCMP’s strategic priorities. Some of those being checked are also on the list of prolific offenders maintained by the detachment. Prolific offenders are responsible for a disproportionate number of crimes and usually have very lengthy criminal records, often involving thefts and drugs.
Robberies within Langley City are up 88 per cent in the first four months of 2011 compared to last year. Business break-ins are up, too, by 10 per cent. In contrast, most other crime statistics have improved. Residential break-ins are down 23 per cent, and thefts from vehicles are down 37 per cent. Auto theft has decreased by 88 per cent, drug offence statistics have dropped 27 per cent, and fraud is down by 23 per cent. Langley RCMP Supt. Derek Cooke reviewed quarterly crime statistics for City council Monday. Cooke explained that some policing costs are fixed – attending serious crashes and major crimes, for instance – while others can be tailored to deal with the patterns and trends of crime as they evolve in the community. Langley’s detachment has been emphasizing several specific issues, including drug crimes, by taking down several grow ops and arresting at least 30 drug traffickers. As well, local RCMP are working to reduce gang activity, and targeting young people who are at risk of joining gangs. “We’re looking at creating an anti-gang program for the schools,” Cooke said. RCMP are also trying to reduce property crime by targeting prolific offenders, improving road safety, and aiming to increase the number of drunk drivers they take off the road. The goals come on the heels of the successful Prolific Offender Program that the detachment started last fall. As an example of the program’s impact, Cooke noted that one of the targeted offenders had 48 “negative contacts” in the last half 2010, but since coming under closer watch by RCMP implementing the program, he has had only six negative contacts. “The majority of people on our prolific offenders list have mental health or addiction issues,” he added.