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Amateurs bump up local crime stats By LINDA Grime In Halloo is on the increase but accord lag to police officials is not tbe professional criminal who a contributing to that climbing In act only about per cent of all criminal act in done by hardcore profession ab For the most part crime is committed by those opportunity be it a res of peer pressure or tbe need for some quick money Sgt Peter bud of the crime bureau for Halton Regional est only per cent of the population to be totally At least per cent of the population depending upon the situation could be tempted to commit some offence be said ThbappUesdirectlytoyouth where peer pres They might be basically good kids and know right from wrong but if the opportunity there or the pressure is on they might do He has noticed a definite rue in number of offences committed by those between the ages of and yeirs Many are high school dropouts Unemployed or laid off workersbut nil with time on their hands Peer pressure had not changed over the years hesaid Kids and older ones still want to fit into a group They usually don t do well in school or are unemployed and arc hanging around with other kids They might be getting into drugs or activity or they could Just be aroundwanting to feel part of that parti group They will put aside their personal feelings just to be part of that group be Tbe biggest jump in criminal activity among youths has been in the fraud category and shoplift tog At one time you didnt see many youths or teen agers involved in that Now there are a lot forging signatures steal identification or credit cards and opening accounts in other peoples names for the purposes of writing bad cheques Having worked in tbe Juvenile section I was surprised by number of and involved fraud saidSgt in shoplifting Incidents has prompted most firms to take a hard stand against those cau ght With a few exceptions moat apprehended even for nail polish are brought before the courts The problem is a lot of people dont realize the consequences of their actions People must realize shoplifting is a theft and that they can ha veacrimlruurecordforlL For that reason alone most shop owners will prosecute offenders SgL believes at least onethird of all residential break in cases could be avoided If homeowners were more careful about securing their premises About onethird of the breakins in are committed homes where the doors or windows were left unlocked It is not a break in as much as a walk in be said Leaving valuables in plain sight in a car is ano ther invitation to thieves or wouldbe thieves be said Cash credit cards and jewelry are among the popular items to be stolen But also taken are stereo equipment cameras and any property that can be easily converted into A lot of the same people who are breaking into houses are doing the shops and businesses said Sgt Small portable typewriters calculators roach and even vehicles are being stolen While the rate of break ins has risen in only 2 to 3 per cent over the past year those doing them are knowledgeable about valuables and what can be easily turned into quick money Sgt Whittaker encourages parents to be more aware of what their teenage sons or daughters are bringing home be it a lot of money or property Parents are responsible and they always accept things at face value Obviously if their sons or daughters are not working and they turn up with a new stereo or new clothes something might not be right This t mean you have to be suspicious all the time But a lot of criminal activity however could be regulated if kids were checked out more often What the sense of a kid stealing a stereo if parents are going questions The Regional Police Department is ser iously considering developing a program simitar to Operation Aware now being used throughout the United States in a move to consequences of crime with school students lack of discussion on the and peer pressure are the biggest problems in dealing with youthful offenders said the polk sergeant He said the program would be similar to a life course and would include speakers and tours of correctional centres Peer pressure begins as early as senior public school where kids begin to place great importance on being part of a group be said A juvenile court diversion program was recent launched by this force to deal with young offend ers The project involves the participation of parents who are invited to attend with their sons or dau- a group session at the local police station In many cases incident might have warranted only a stern reprimand from police to youth but by bringing the parent and child to the station the matter takes on more importance We have had excellent response from the par ents he said although some feel slightly em harassed about the whole thing We tell them it is important they face these problems as family and not brush it off and it abo helps the kid to bear it from a professional newsmakers GeorgetownActon New face in sep school race There will be a race for the one Separate School Board seat In the whole Town of Hill Irene Wood is incumbent Irene McCauley Irene Wood a resident of Georgetown for two yean is a native of Bowman she attained a in French and German Ultra lure at Queen University and has taken continuing educa tlon courses at Mc Master University She one of Separate School Board appointees to Hills Library Board and a lector at Holy Cross Church The candidate making her first bid for public office is a volunteer with Georgetown Hospital Auxiliary and with Georgetown Y where her hus band Is tbe director She is also a member of Georgetown University Womens Club Before coming to Georgetown where she is a real estate agent she was office for Citicorp Leasing in Burlington She says she would like to help the Separate School Board move toward effective cost efficient which Kill not jeopardize Inequality of education A belter flow of information between parents teachers principals and board is another of her Volunteer Firefighters from both Acton and Georgetown turned out for the The men marched down Main St to Knox Presbyterian Church where they she states annual church parade Sunday In Georgetown to mark Fire Prevention Week took part In the service Farmers grapple with complex modern problems Beneath the pastoral serenity of Halton far mland runs a current of tension as farmers the problems of modern agriculture Costs of production are soaring and the final prices for their crops are generally falling high cost of land and equipment and low wages keep young people out of industry Regional and local staff and politicians from s member municipalities were given an In depth look at those problems last week during a tour of farm operations Ron Jones a parttime sheep producer told the travelling politicoa that since he and his wife pur chased their 30- a ere farm In north Burlington market price for the lamb and wool they sell have fallen by 50 per cent Vie can probably get by on these prices but it certainly has to be a labor of love he said If you count your labor cost into it though you just can do it Mr and Mrs Jones currently have purebred Dorset sheep and horses hey continue lo raise despite the low prices because we re involved in breeding Were interested In the quality of the stock Henry agricultural represent illustrated the point even further noting that in 1981 he sold four sheep from his farm for This year the best price he can get for the same quantity animals is We re trying to find tbe weak link in the market chain now he said adding that domestic producers account for less than onequarter of he Down the road Ed Segsworth told the group that the 1 acres of cash crops he grows amounted more crop than cash this year He told the group that while he farms 1 acres of land he owns only The balance is rented on one year leases mostly from developers holding it for future plans That he said creating a major problem for food producers On rentab like this farmers just rape the land They lake everything out of It they can because they can afford to put anything back In toil Owning more of the land he works would give him more security he said but he simply can t afford to own more right now Currently Mr Segsworth has invested in equipment for his operation One item a com bine cost and is only used a maximum of three weeks during the year Owning items like that In common with other farmers doesn t work he sold because when I need it I need it right away not tomorrow or the next day During thenlanting season every day he waits beyond May 15 costs him a bushel per acre In final yield Mr Segsworth Is one of the farmers cooper ating In program for using sewage sludge Hesaidhewouldknowbetteratlhe end of this year how good the sludge really Is but noted there have been some problems Falling crop prices have also been a problem for producers in his market be said noting that two years ago he could sell corn for a bushel Today the best available price is 38 a bushel Barley that commanded a ton two years ago today brings only a ton Inside this section Outdoors B4 School enrolment declines BS Dump alternative B7 Labor key to success Purchasing Agent Town will buy here when everything equal The Town wants to come in later and offer controversy where local buy locally and will do to better the lowest bid business complained so on every occasion Recalling a recent they did not have t provided price delivery and quality are equal Hugh Patterson pur chasing agent for the Town of HUb assured members of Georgetown Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday He emphasised there no mystique about buying from the Town If you have a product I Interested in hearing about it but you also have an obliga tion to make me aware of your product or vice He stressed the big difference between private and Town buying is simply every thing is open to public scrutiny and there are bask rules set by coun cil that must bt followed He noted there is no second chance on a bid since no one can lender explained bylaw all tenders will be published in local papers as well as the Daily Commercial News or other publication relating to item Previously it was only advertised locally if it thought a local contractor may be able bid Patterson said every thing over will be offered by public sealed tender but noted in the case of vehicles or specific capital items under that tender Ing process will be Between COM and it is permissible to have invitational tenders with at least three written quota lions The new purchasing bylaw will allow pur chose by negotiation if bids come In at equal Tow amounts or where none tooeaeen when exactly meet tbe specifications said the purchasing agent He contended It would be faster than recalling tenders In technical tenders the purchasing agent can call for from various compan ies said Patterson tennis courts and lighting as examples He noted the Town has set up a stores department for items used frequently since buying In quantity is more economical During we dealt with over local businesses he stated He urged the Cham members keep him advised of their price lists and their pro ducts Town Treasurer Ray King who was at the meeting was asked how long the Town takes to pay He replied We pay in days unless there a within 10 days Walt Dixon of Park Lincoln Mercury said as a Ford dealer he had never been asked to supply a part In reply King said you should let the Town know you have them Patterson added This is the first time Ive seen you said there are many automotive parts dealers In Town and suggested works department be In structed to share the business around Town Murray Lawton of Canadian Tire claimed he had never even seen a Town quote form The Chamber of Com merce President con cluded the meeting by pointing out the business people have a responsibility to bustle for the Town the same as they do for other business Keith Director Planning where the action starts Its the front line as far as developers are concerned and the department where the bat tle first joined Its the planning department where soft spoken Planning Director Ian Keith presides In a direct understanding manner always seeing the Towns and the developers side of any disagreement Hes been on the other side since he has worked in private industry u a planner with Kldnfeldt Associates and Cor poration as well as with other municipalities before coming here just this year as plan ning director To the average person planning is a vague term that means little but in the words of Ian Keith a planner deals with the physical en vironment manages growth and deals with development applications hopefully in a way that improves the Towns appearance Our role Is lo stand between the administration and developer to and encourage the best He stresses as all department beads do that his department only makes 0 council but the decisions are made around the council table The reams of paper generated In this department are probably greater than any where else And no wonder reports of all kinds are the order of the day Every application for development even a small one has to be circulated to an endless number of agencies They go to the Halton School Boards both of them the fire department police department building deportment parks department engineering regional works and regional planning depart Health Unit some to the Escarpment Commission the Hydro and sometimes to the CNR Then when all their comments come back to the planners they have to be summed up and Incorporated In a lengthy report to council The report tries to resolve all the comments and come up with a recommendation to council This of course does not necessarily mean council will accept It as many a plan tier has round out to his sorrow Keilh understands the political com promise often necessary for elected officials and soys They nave to balance the on competing forces guess thats democracy Its a bit of a surprise to find a philosopher lurking under the maps and regulations surrounding planning director par ticularly one who has some doubts about his own profession I often wonder If we arc interfering too much with peoples rights on their own property He sees the necessity that brought planning to fore In the 40s and early SOs when development has hap hazard but since then wonders if It has not become a tool of the political process where It could be an obstacle to development rather than an encouragement along the right path The philosopher peeks though again when he points out man and woman has strong territorial Instincts He says frequently op position toa reaming by an Individual or rale payers group while outwardly using traffic noise dust other reason as the basis of objection are really feeling threatened by change in their territory Keith says the Ontario Municipal Board recognizes this instinct by insisting nearby residents must be notified of any proposed change We as planners have to recognize that strong intuitive feeling and take It into consideration By this time most readers know Official Plan is close after almost six years of effort but not loo many know what an Official Plan really b Well according to the planner it a statement of public policy Intended as a guide to all development but it not a taw unlll a zoning bylaw specifically designating areas passed It the zoning bylaw which can be enforced Even the Town cannot spend public money on a project unless it conforms to the Official Plan and zoning bylaw He predicts tbe survival of downtowns as more Intimate specialized shopping areas and apartment redevelopment in that area in Georgetown He Acton has more gracefully than Georgetown simply because they do not have the large plazas Keith feels the local municipalities are caught in a squeeze play with all the provincial ministries such as Ministry of Transportation Natural Resources Agriculture and Food all trying to have the Town adopt their policies which frequently conflict In addition Ontario Hydro and the railway companies want their policies given priority But it the local council who are faced with irate ratepayers Within the next 20 years development will occur south of Silvercreek and west of Georgetown with some growth In Acton the planner predicts He sees only government subsidized apartment building since apart ments have become expensive to build and returning too low a yield to the developer He insists the backbone of the planning department is the staff including Bruce MacLean deputy planning director Brian Murdoch planning technician and secretary and woman for all seasons and jobs Before entering private businesses he worked as a planner for Metro and Etobicoke Hurried with two children James and Christina he living to at present