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Police instruct shopowners PllSlUCSS to safeguard their property SECTION A THE HERALD Wednesday Page Biehn bridge winners Watt Writer The biggest weapon shopkeepers have robbers are heir eye It a pretty scary when somebody a racing you with a gun Halton lonal police Const Bob But lake a good look at the robber his hair eyes height build clothes Look for marks scars and tatoos All the details you can muster on the criminal after the robbery will help police Identify the sus pect A robbery can occur anywhere there a money the crime prevention off leer said Despite a dearth of Georgetown Chamber Commerce members the third of four seminars on crime prevention waa held July in the Georgetown District High School cafe- play the hero It the worst thing do Const Doug Me said Be careful there may be more than one guy Give them the money Its insured hope fully He said most robbers In Hills aren armed Only five per cent come with a weapon While a robbery is In progress Const recommended safe ly be the priority of shop keepers They should go along wllh what the robb er wants without fighting or resisting him though it may be difficult be calm and control your emotions FEW GUNS The type robberies we come across In Hills the I m stick the gun In your face give me your money types Const McMillan said Robbery coordinator forlheforcesinceisei he said there s been a rash of robberies throughout southern Ontario at represent ten per cent of customers and are mainly juveniles Under the Criminal Code thefts over can bring a maximum sent of ten years For thefts under ted thieves can receive up to two years merit and a maximum fine Greeting customers they come into the store gives shoplifters a strong feeling they re being watched and discourages them Const said For regular custom era the courtesy and attention Is a plus for he While a robbery I In progress Const say that safety should be the priority of shopkeepers hour milk stores and self serve gas stations In this year there have been five robberies so far Const McMillan said He distinguished be tween a robbery and a theft explaining a robb ery Is a theft by actual assault or threat After the robber leaves call police don chase he robber Const advised Get the licence number color and make of the escape veh icle I he direction of el then lock the doors Freeze the area Const McMillan said Lock the door and locale jour witnesses robber leaned against a counter with his hands keep everyone from it to protect the fingerprints for police record SI ALARM As a deterrent to robb ers Const McMillan store owners ad they don keep more than float money In Iheir till and that they have a silent alarm sys tem Without exception every robbery I gone to they said 1 cant believe this would happen here What this town coming to Const said All I can say is It can happen to you Over 80 per cent of all crimes are drug related he said Some robber ies of opportunity where circumstances were too easy to pass up If the opportunity is there they il go lor it Cons I said Maybe If they see these signs hey think why should rob this place if they ve only got a float A common typed theft in stores is shoplifting Const said NERVOUS Watch the customer Does he have darling eyes la he nervous lianas shaking Sweat ing Const said Watch them as theycomein Bulky cloth ing large bags and purses are great for dumping stuff in Be wary of distracting situations where someone starts on argument at the counter you while his accomplice Is robbing the shelves he said It a better have wo people working the store at the same time Avolld placing more than one Item out at a time to show a customer Const advised He setting up smaller Items in a design As soon as one ring is missing from the pattern you 11 notice quickly by Just a look Clothing stores should remove empty hangers They re a clue In dressing rooms that something is missing Don t allow cust to take more than one Item a change room to try on Cons said Some go in with an armful and come out wearing half of under heir coat he said Taking a few extra minutes curbs cheque credit card fraud The millions of dollars lost annually because of bad cheques and phoney credit cards could be cut drastically If business men were more cautious at the checkout counter That message provided the theme for the fourth and final crime prevent ion seminar sponsored Jointly by the Hal on Reg lonal Police Department and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Featuring Detective Ron Welsh of be Crimin al Investigations Bureau District l he seminar focused on how business men can cut down the chances of being being taken by bad credit cards and cheques simply by taking time to process hem properly at the cash There nothing wrong with asking the customer for more Identification when a cheque or card is used crime prevention officer Const Bob told a small lence of local merchants and businessmen And there nothing wrong with refusing accept a credit card of cheque Many times staff at he checkout counters feel they re too rushed to bother taking a close and cautious look when he customer decides not to pa In cash HURRY COSTS you find your self In a rush Const said hat a when you slip up Because credit card fraud is swiftly mobile with purchase made on the same bad card show up from one town to the next possibly In ano ther province it falls under Its own special section In the Criminal Code An arrest and subse quent trial for credit card fraud can happen any where regardless of where the crime took different for crimes In volving bad cheques It usually takes a serious caw to encourage he solicitors office to send officers across Canada to pick up a suspect Small fraud may raise quest ions going through the expense of up and transporting a crook But with the warrant left outstanding a sus pect will be arrested as soon he returns to the province where toe crime committed Without going through the criminal courts Del Welsh explained a num ber of other options are open to businessmen stung by bad cheques Professional collection agencies will try to collect for a business getting a small of the cheques value Businessmen may also resort to personal con tact usually through law yera letters and tele phone calls SMALL CLAIMS Another option to bust Det Welsh said Is to pursue collect Ion through the Small Claims court The court charges a maximum fee of which might make it worth the plaintiffs time and effort if he amount due over he plaintiffs can collect up to COO pursuing debts through this system While encouraging bus inessmen to report cheque and credit card fraud to the police re gardless of how they In Dei Welsh noted that reimburse ment through the stump every bad cheque passing attempt or catch every phoney credit card police acknowledge but the a Kempt Is worthwhile and will cut down on the crime Some pointers pal ice suggest keeping in court system Is especially if he pleads poverty for lack of payment We like o be aware of cheques which are problems Welsh said Chances are that bad cheque is not an Iso lated incident Extra caution won accept as much identl fl cat Ion as you like before taking the cheque And don accept postdated cheques jot down the license number of the customer on the back a phone number and address If the cheque I personalized he items purchased and tie mi la no end Id the buying sno wing power The Hittofl HiriU Find tut tor rtgolir reidtr and in Claimed the HERALD Horns Newspaper of Halton Hills Established 1866 ST GEORGETOWN HALTON HILLS 8772201 8778822 ALL SIZES FULAHDTOPSOn BUD HAINES 3 DURHAM ST 3302 877 Avoid tall displays or counters hat obstruct the view Put up convex rors In the comers so you can sec all through the store he said Display cases should be locked DIFFICULT Narrow cluttered aisles should be avoided Wider aisles make it more difficult to pick up something while casually swinging your arm Const said Keep expensive Items a way from the That way you have more of a chance to see hat they re missing and It will mean a further distance for thieves to have to travel gel out If the merchandise comes in pairs only dls play one This is common in shoe stores where they only put out left Const rec dummy plays Instead of having boxes full of dock radios out Just put out one and have it sitting on empty boxen for the real Item There nothing wrong with chaining TVs and radios together so cust can run away with them Const said Never leave a section of the store unattended While you re In the back room a thief can easily walk out with whatever store divide It up and have staff responsible for a certain section There nothing wrong with a little bonus for catching a thief Const Uslrrycki said It in centive and builds up the morale of people working under The Winn ers at the Georgetown Bridg Club las month were Harry and Walter Second place went to Blayne Hillock and Denlie and third was held by Marie Sharpe and Florence Wilkinson The East West winners were Prod Allen and Gus followed by Art and Enid Ash- worth Third place went tied to the team and the Wilkin- team The Georgetown DuplI cate Bridge Club all area bridge play era to Join the club for an evening of friendly competition In the game of bridge The club meets every Tuesday evening at the Georgetown Legion Hall on Mill Street Game time is For further Information call 3070 ask about the bridge game The club guarante es a partner and a time or your money will be kept Come and play Town Country 2ttat DRY CLEANING SAKE DAY DAT CLE WW 5EHVCE HONDA 8770387 HILLS SHOPPING Stevensons MENS WEAR CLEARANCE he name of the person if he signature t clear If the cheque Is returned Insufficient funds and the customer can be traced call the police and try to find out who was working the cosh when the cheque was accepted That per son might be able to des cribe the individual who passed he cheque scrutinise the expiry date of credit cards and always look through the credit card company list of bad and stolen cards People have lo realise that the economy Isn t up to par Const said These days you have be extra cautious o protect yourself A GREAT LOOK Sport Jackets and Blazers OUR REGULAR PRICE SUITS shirts PANTS TOPCOATS DRESS SHIRTS DRESS TIES SPRING JACKETS Stevensons MENS WEAR Georgetown Market Place 8776661 Kiss an old flame goodbye I mi nun to think something I ft ilh l think ibout limit Because right now I is Unit to do something ibout next oil bills I your oil let is in jo id ndition but like it to run I ttononut tleetrieiiy is the A stem oil will home efficiently economic ilh i ill reduce inn of use by up to percent While Ik it pump will not cut heating bills by to 30 per tent but provide air in the summer forcfficfcni round comfort furrncc dots need replacing in electric furnace or out of other electric systems can heat your home cleanly efficiently and economically know more lake a minute now and write to Ontario 1 University Avenue Toronto and iskforour free booklet Heating Options for Your Home 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