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2 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed,, November 25, 1981 Shoplifting is a criminal offense Shoplifting is just 'a nice way of saying theft according to Durham Region Police constable Peter Wraight of the Community Services Branch. In simple terms, a shoplifter is a thief and is treated as a thief if caught with stolen merchandise. In the Region of Durham there have been 1286 thefts under $200 by shoplifters from January to October of this year, and according to Constable Wraight this number will increase significantly during the next five or six weeks as we get closer to Christmas. Penalties for people charged with shoplifting offenses can range from a suspended sentence, fines and even a jail term. The maximum jail sentence for theft under $200 is two years, while for thefts over $200 a sentence as high as ten years could be given. Constable Wraight told the Star in an interview on Monday that some of the reasons for youngsters getting involved with theft (shoplifting) is because of peer pressure, or wanting to be one of the gang. Often kids will steal because of a dare by their friends. _ "We all pay for theft, with over $1 million per day being stolen in Canada alone, it is reflected in the prices we pay for goods," constable Wraight said. Unfortunately the kids seem to think that insurance pays for stolen merchandise. ' The police point out to merchants that they can help to deter theft by being careful how they display their merchandise. Don't put displays near exits where things can easily be removed. Keep your shelves low so you can see who is on the other side and if anything is being taken. And probably most important is to acknowledge the presence of a customer in the store. Let them know that you will be right with them or offer them assistance. 'One thing a shoplifter does not want is a helpful clerk," Const. Wraight says. In the event that a young shoplifter is apprehended, and the merchant decides to lay charges, the police must be called in. When they arrive they will take the report and either take the youth home or back to the station and call the parents to come and pick up their child. - After this contact the Youth Bureau will follow-up and call the parents and child in for an interview. From this point they will either be given a warning or be taken to juvenile court. The most important thing that Constable Wraight wishes to get across to the shoplifter is that it is a criminal offense. For-a young person (16 or over) being charged with this offense can close a lot. of doors for jobs in their future. That moment's impulse can cause a lot of agony and grief for the family, so think before you grab. It's not worth it. oo. Merchants to get tough (From pagel) But Mr. Hall is also one of those merchants who has decided that the only way to put a stop to the shoplifting is to have the police lay charges against anyone caught. The Star spoke last week to a security guard in one of the large department stores in Oshawa and found that shop- lifting is not only performed by young people. Many affluent, upper middle-class and elderly people are also caught in the act of shoplift- ing. According to the guard there is some element of pro- fessionalism in thefts in the larger stores but for the most part it is individuals. In most cases those caught have enough money with them to pay for any merchandise stolen. When asked if he had noticed an increase in the amount of shoplifting this year the security guard said yes, and they anticipated it getting even worse 2s Christmas gets closer. --At Stedman's in Port Perry, owner Bill Barr told the Star that shoplifting has always been a problem, and it takes many wasted hours trying to keep it minimal. He finds that most of his offences are done by teen- agers and adults, and has caught people wearing clothes out of the store, with items stuffed in handbags, pants and in jackets, and - anticipates that it will get worse this year than ever, before because of the economic conditions. "I do not hesitate when I catch someone. I phone the police and ask that charges be laid'", he told the Star. Just what makes a person shoplift? Well according to the security guard the Star spoke to, for some it is the - excitement, or challenge. He qualified this by relating an The Tapestry Si - CHRISTMAS SHOW - Town Hall 1873 PORT PERRY is pleased to present... ngers experience in which he caught an 82 year old lady leaving the store with a dress she had not paid for. She had a large assortment of dresses at home and plenty of money to pay for the merchandise, but she was apparently bored with her life so she began shoplifting to give her life some excite- ment. Although some parents of children caught are very concerned and upset when they are contacted by a storeowner telling them that their youngster has been caught shoplifting, this is not always the case. According to merchants the Star contacted, quite often the parents will take the offen- sive and tell the storeowner to quit bothering their child, or 'my child wouldn't steal," without questioning the youngster. But regardless of their age, or how much they have stolen a shoplifter can receive stiff fines and even a jail term. So with the Scugog Chamber of Commerce urging its members to contact the police and have - charges laid, shoplifters in Port Perry had better be ready for the full force of the law to come down on them if they are caught. Local merchants are keeping a sharp watch, so shoplifter beware! OCCICAICICICICICICIC "a 525252525¢5252525252525¢5252525¢ ICICI ICICACIC op op lw lon lp plop lon Lop Top Tan To 2525252525252525254555 Ac > Q A A 5 H i h welcomes "LESLIE BLAKE" To Our Styling Staff. -- GET ACQUAINTED SPECIAL -- UTYSTUDIO | ACCA ACICICICICACICACAC! 3 BY LESLIE ALL REGULARPRICED PERMS (TILL DECEMBER 5th, 1981) PHONE 985-7991 FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT! - "109 WITH THISCOUPON 3 CLIP & SAVE COUPON Top lop Lom NCCI ICICIC OOOO pol Ts 5¢ 000000000 OOOODOOCCCCE525252525252525252525252525252525 WE NEED YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR JUNIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD (DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1, 1981) . Purpose of Awards Inaugurated in Ontario to provide recognition for outstanding achievements or acts of courage and initiative by boys and girls between the ages of six and 18 years. The program will also in- clude individual awards presented for meritorious conduct on a sustained basis, plus special group awards to recognize the ef- forts of young people throughout t ince. he communities of the prov- Noteworthy deeds of Ontario boys and girls are petformed within their communities. Only by having them drawn to our attention by local nominators and newspaper editors will we be able to honour these worthy young citizens and recognition they so richly deserve. Who Is Eligible? give them the bublic The award nominees will be individuals or groups who have per- formed acts of physical heroism, perhaps endangering their own at TOWN HALL 1873 lives, overcoming disabling. physical or psychological handicaps THURSDAY er eve in ome wor DE CE M B E Bh 1 Oth A COMMUNITY PROJECT OF CP AIR = TICKETS: CP AND THIS NEWSPAPER. 8:00 p M i Cb CP and [are reg dei of Canadian Pacific Limited. Ee $8.00 I'am proud to nominate My name is Vi . pi oi! TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: Irwin Smith Music Ltd., Port Perry Star of AsdIess : or Phone 985-2367. -- Birthdate Address Phone No. Hold onto your old WINTARIO tickets 4 old WINTARIO tickets may be used to reduce the price of each single ticket by $2.00. (Tickets from June 18 10 Dec 24/81 may be used) Name of this newspaper for a 1981 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award. (Please enclose a separatg sheet telling why you believe an award is deserved.) NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 1, 1981