Amid oil-fuelled worries, St. John's revives neighbourhood watch program
04.11.2008 21:04
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- Source: cbc.ca
Coun. Keith Coombs called for city support for a revived neighbourhood watch program at Monday's meeting. (CBC)St. John's city council has voted unanimously to revive a program to help residents curb crime in their own neighbourhoods. Council will spend $40,000 on reviving a neighbourhood watch program. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the Newfoundland and Labrador government and community groups will cover the remainder of the $90,000 budget. Coun. Keith Coombs said as concerns rise about whether new oil wealth will spark more crime, it's timely to bring back a neighbourhood watch — as long as it's done the right way. "They can, indeed, do away with up to 50 per cent of crime in an area — if they are active, if they are put in place properly and if they're doing what they're supposed to do," Coombs told Monday evening's regular council meeting. "We've all incurred some type of damage," Coombs said, adding that the oil wealth "that we all look forward to" could be accompanied by property crime. Coombs said some residents, especially seniors, could become particularly vulnerable. There are no longer any active neighbourhood watch programs in the city, even though old signs from prior programs can still be seen on telephone poles around St. John's. Coun. Tom Hann told the meeting he wishes one existed in his neighbourhood, where his family was the target of four break-ins. "You don't know how it feels when your wife … looks for her purse and it's gone," Hann said. "She laid it on the step in the house and somebody opened the door, took the purse and went on." Funding for the program will be used to hire a full-time co-ordinator and to set up an office, which is expected to open early next year. RelatedInternal LinksOil-rich N.L. braces for loot and consequencesOil wealth will bring more crime, Williams tells policeAudio Coun. Keith Coombs addresses Monday evening's meeting of St. John's city council (Runs: 2:55) Play: Real Media »Consumer HeadlinesNational pump price average around 98 cents a litreThe national average for a litre of gas hovered around 98 cents before noon Tuesday, while the price of crude climbed to $64.95 a barrel in trading.Air Canada fee for extra storm service 'reasonable,' transportation agency rulesThe Canadian Transportation Agency has rejected a challenge to a controversial Air Canada program, which provides enhanced customer service to stranded travellers who have paid an advance fee.Charitable donations up, number of donors slips: StatsCanCanadians made $8.6 billion worth of charitable donations in 2007, an increase of 1.4 per cent over the previous year, according to Statistics Canada figures released Tuesday.Niagara restaurant prepares to welcome diners, search for E. coli source continues A restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. will reopen on Wednesday, health officials announced as they updated the information available about their investigations into E. coli outbreaks in southern Ontario.Rogers relaunches Fido without system access feeRogers Communications Inc. has moved to head off greater competition in the cellphone market by relaunching its Fido brand with lower rate plans, shorter term contracts and no system access fee. Consumer Life FeaturesECONOMYGeographyWorld's next great cities IN DEPTHE. coliFAQsSAFETYRecalls and AdvisoriesBLOGFood BytesTightening the belt before dinnerVIDEOMoneyBartering makes a comeback (2:26)COMM-ODDITIESAuctionOzark cave owner turns to eBay in search of a bidderPeople who read this also read …
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