Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jul 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: David Carrigg
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DRUG ADDICTS BEHIND POLICE PURSUITS: COPS

Peace Officers Bemoan Newest Auto-Theft Trend -- 'It Needs To
Stop'

LOWER MAINLAND - A frightening new auto-theft pattern has emerged with
out-of-control drug addicts now responsible for almost all police pursuits.

"That's the newest trend," said Const. Todd Sweet of the New
Westminster police. "Just about every one we pick off is high on
methamphetamine or high on crack cocaine, and they are telling us they
are stealing cars specifically to go out and do other crimes or get
other cars to pay for their drug habits."

Sweet, who is also spokesman for the B.C. Federation of Police
Officers, said that in June and the first week of July, New West
police made several arrests following seven police pursuits.

In all those cases, the driver was an active addict with a long list
of prior offences. In some cases they had charges that were still
before the courts.

- - On June 19, police stopped a 28-year-old man in a stolen car who was
on probation and who had been convicted of various crimes 20 times
since 1990. In 2003, the man was charged with dangerous driving,
causing a police pursuit and possessing break-in tools.

- - On June 9, a 35-year-old man who had served time for dangerous
driving and possession of stolen property was arrested after a spike
belt stopped his stolen vehicle.

The man was on probation for being a passenger in a stolen car and
possessing a firearm.

Particularly scary for police is the condition they find the thieves
in once they are stopped.

"You can tell straight away," said Sweet. "They are bouncing off the
walls and often haven't slept in five or six days. They are also
prepared to take us on, but then when they come down, they don't
remember any of it. It's an epidemic."

RCMP Cpl. Tim Shields, spokesman for the Integrated Municipal
Provincial Auto Crime Team, said the experience of the New West police
is being felt across B.C.

Police are finding themselves involved in a record number of pursuits
of stolen vehicles, he said.

"There is on average 10 police pursuits begun in the Lower Mainland
every day," Shields said, adding most are called off because of the
danger to the public.

"Auto theft is a barometer of society and what we are seeing is more
addicts stealing cars."

According to the Insurance Corp. of B.C., auto theft fell last year
for the first time in 15 years -- to 23,000 vehicles compared with
25,000 in 2003.

"Our bait-car program has had an impact on non-addicted thieves and
organized crime now accounts for only seven per cent of car theft,"
Shields said.

"But what we have now are addicted repeat offenders, the same group of
people stealing cars over and over again. The profile is a guy in his
late 20s or early 30s with a drug habit. We rarely pull someone over
who we haven't already dealt with."

Sweet said the B.C. police federation will meet with Solicitor-General
John Les this week in a bid to get jail time and forced drug treatment
for repeat offenders.

"We've been watching this problem get worse and worse and now we are
going to make our frustrations known to the public," he said. "There's
a core of people who are stealing cars and it needs to stop.

- - - -

RECENT INCIDENTS . . .

Recent dangerous incidents involving stolen vehicles:

- - July 6, a 34-year-old man drives a stolen van into a Surrey
townhouse.

- - July 9, four people injured when a stolen van collides with a car,
taxi and a police cruiser in Vancouver.

- - June 27, a North Vancouver police officer fires at a stolen vehicle
after the driver tries to run him down.

- - June 4, Abbotsford police arrest a man who drove a stolen car on the
wrong side of Highway 11.

- - March 27, a 23-year-old drug addict being followed by Richmond
police hits a vehicle, killing the driver. 
- ---