Our Office is located at 6070 East Boulevard in Kerrisdale. We are a non-profit organization that works in partnership with ICBC and the Vancouver Police Department.
Our Community Policing Office is a place where our volunteers and police officers can work with the residents, business owners and the community to work on crime prevention planning and discuss concerns. Our foot, bike patrol and office coordinators work to organize community patrols and crime prevention programs in the community.
Constable Shayne Savage works fulltime as our Neighbourhood Police Officer (NPO) and can regularly be found patrolling our area.
Latest News:
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Spring 2009 Newsletter
Our Spring 2009 Newsletter is available for download now. Please click here to download it to your computer.
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Change of Neighbourhood Police Officer (NPO)
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new NPO, Cst. Shayne Savage. He recently joined KOM CPC and became a member of our big family. At the same time, we would like to thank Cst. Elizabeth Miller, our departing NPO, for all of her valuable contributions to our community.
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Changes in Board of Directors
There has been a change to the Board of Directors. Please click here to find out who they are.
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Strategic Plan for KOMCPC’s “Operation Anti-Graffiti” Program
The purpose of the KOM CPC’s “ANTI-GRAFFITI” program is to service the various businesses within the KOM (Kerrisdale, Oakridge and Marpole) and to remove graffiti. Our volunteers will help the community to reduce and eliminate another criminal element in our three areas. We need the manpower of cooperative, responsible volunteers to arrange a certain time and location to help the victims. The City provides all paint, namely, white, black terra cotta, beige, gray and green. However, if the owner wishes to match the exact colour of the paint, the owner of the property must provide the paint. The volunteers or KOM CPC will not be held responsible for any poor workmanship. The owner of the property must sign a consent form to authorize all volunteers participating on the designated location. Each business will contact our KOM CPC should they need our service. It will be our commitment to wipe out all graffiti.
The City bylaw states that all owners of property must remove graffiti within ten days of notification. After the grace period, the City will then remove the graffiti and bill the owners. The time period will give us sufficient time to call all interested volunteers.
Check website: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/graffiti
The contact at KOM CPC is 604 717-3434 for Tony Bulic, KOM CPC coordinator and his assistant, Joanne Wong.
Private residences may contact the City for a free paint kit to remove graffiti twice a year.
Call 604 873-7798For any building in excess of ten (10 ) feet in height we cannot wipe out the graffiti for safety reasons.
A sign up list for the Anti-Graffiti program will be posted at the KOM office. There will be three contingency teams:
Team K for Kerrisdale, Team O for Oakridge and Team M for Marpole.
Once we have been contacted, a team of volunteers will be mobilized at the KOM office to pick up the paint supplies.To some, Graffiti is an art or expression; to the owners of properties, it is a criminal offence, causing defacement to property. Owners of graffiti art repeat their offences, so to remove graffiti with expediency takes away the thrill from the perpetrators.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Donna Chan, interim team captain for “Operation Anti-Graffiti” Program.
Before
After
KOM CPC FALL 2009 CRIME PREVENTION AND SAFETY TIPS
The FAll season is here. The leaves of our maple trees are turning into an explosion of vibrant colours along the streets in Kerrisdale, Oakridge and Marpole and its surrounding areas. Children and youths with backpacks are heading to schools and classes in their usual routines. Parents are patiently negotiating their vehicles in different school zones from morning to late afternoons or heading to work by vehicle, bus and the Skytrain or the new Canada Line. These two lines have given easy access to the criminals going into different neighbourshoods. It is a constant bustle of activities along all corridors of our busy streets, bridges and freeways. We live in a carefree world of activities, that we do not realize criminals are at work repeating the same scenarios at an opportune time. We enjoy the freedom that our homes are a safe haven until an uneventful intrusion interrupts and creates havoc in our lives.
We often wonder getting up in the morning thinking there might be the occasional frost on our front windows to scrape it off; but instead, we find shattered glasses on the ground and personal articles and changes missing from the vehicle. It is very frustrating for the owners not only to see the damage but also, a nuisance to report the incident. There have been a number of reported cases of vandalized vehicles and stolen vehicles in our areas.
Has anyone come home and found your home burglarized and emptied of valuable heirlooms, computers, laptops,money, safes, mps, itouch, iphones, notebooks, cds, clothing, appliances, vintage wine bottles, artwork, music instruments and so forth. Intruders, usually in pairs or threesome, males and or females, have no sympathy, when they enter your homes ravaging for anything of value, using your suitcases and assorted bags to haul away your valuables.
Be wary of intruders casing your streets and alleys. If we are familiar with our own traffic dwellers by face or vehicles, we are certain that these strangers do not belong here in our areas.
Does anyone realize how easy your personal identification numbers can be stolen to the detriment that all your financial and personal identification documents are removed? Copies should always be kept in a separate and secured area. Cross shred all personal identification numbers of important statements or certifcates. Always stay at the cashier until the transaction has been properly done to avoid unscrupulous, illegimate duplication. Never reveal the same information over phone. Avoid using ATM machines in unknown areas. Banks are safer during open hours.
Has anyone found a stranger sleeping inside your vehicle? Lock all vehicles.
Has anyone’s entire lower floor been robbed of valuables, while the family is asleep on the upper floor? The alarm system should remain activated whether the occupants are at home or out. Bars are still considered the best device for securing lower floor windows.
Has anyone left home to do some shopping, delayed and later, found your children coming home from school facing a stranger emptying the valuables from their bedrooms? Children have excellent perception that they can recall description of strangers. The rule is to never enter a home, if it appears unusual, leave, go to the school or a neighbour and call 911.
Do your neighbours have Block Watch where neighbours are trained to observe strangers in their neighbourhoods, have a designated Block Watch sign posted nearby, and have stickers on doors and windows on homes of legitimate members. Emails on detailed crimes in the neighbourhoods are sent weekly to each member of Block Watch and to all community policing centres. If you wish to become a member of Block Watch, sign in at the local community policing centre.
Do you know where is your closest Community Policing Centre where you can phone, email and drop by for updates on crime prevention and safety tips, report a crime in progress, log in your police identification number to obtain further investigation of the incident or volunteer?
Where is the closest police station to our KOM CPC? The Vancouver Police Department for District 4 South is located in the same office at 6070 East Boulevard at West 45thAvenue. You may contact your local liaison police officer by leaving a message at the office: 604 717-3434, contact the Non Emergency number at 604 717-3321 or for immediate attention, always dial 911 and stay on the line until the operator is finished with the inquiries. Please let your neighbours know that the 911 line speaks all kinds of languages. All lines, be they private or not, are traceable through the Emergency Communication station of command.
Fear is a perception. We should prepare ourselves with some precautionary measures.
Hallowe’en is celebrated on October 3lst annually. It is important for our neighbours to focus on the personal safety of our young children.
It is prudent that children are taught personal safety. Children should wear light, non flammable and reflective clothing. If wearing a mask, it should not cover the entire face, but it should leave large eye openings. Children should walk facing traffic on sidewalks, walk not alone but in groups, accompanied by parents, adults or older teens and go to homes where they are comfortable with, known to them or homes with welcoming lights. Most homeowners will turn on their lights for treat o’treaters. Homeowners should keep their paths cleared of clutter to avoid unnecessary accidents.
It is safer to check all treats before consumption, as there have been cases of tampered treats with razor blades found in apples and candies, anything seemingly rewrapped, punctured, discoloured, unsavourly scented or unscented. For the past number of years, malls have been an open venue, a safer event for children.
It is not safe to enter homes of strangers, as some may entice children for other reasons.
Try to avoid areas where people are lighting fireworks. Licence is required for those who use fireworks. There have been cases of severe cases of avoidable accidents and burns.
Homeowners should leave their lights on from sunset to greet young treat o’treaters, though lately, some older teens have knocked on doors. Be extremely cautious of teens coming alone or in pairs not accompanying children, as they may be casing your house when you open your door giving them a layout of your home.
Personal Safety
Always lock doors and windows before you leave your home or vehicle. Use reinforcements to give a better support system by using double barrel locking devices, strike plates, peepholes, bars, and other security devices.
Days are getting shorter, lights need adjustment. Leave security lights on the interior and exterior. If using alarm system, set a connection to the upper floors and garage.
Put away all valuables in a safe area.
Gardeners should put away all tools and lock them up. Engrave all your garden tools and lawnmovers.
Glue down all outdoor ornaments to avoid theft. Protect your valuable shrubs and trees.
Do not leave expensive food in garage freezers, as there have been cases of stolen foods, namely, gingseng, meats and herbs gone missing. Do not leave expensive equipment in garages such as golf equipment, tennis racquets, various types of sport balls, bikes and if it is necessary, always engrave and lock up. Never leave ladders outside to avoid them being used to climb into your house.
Personal safety has become an issue of concern for those carrying purses. It is now advised that females hold their purses close to their bodies, tuck in under the armpits, rather than to have the straps over shoulders and arms. Purse snatchers have caused serious injuries to victims, while attempting to pull the bags from the owners. Larger bags are in vogue, lately, so more females are carrying larger ones. Some use fanny packs across the waists but they can be cut from behind. Be wary of your surroundings while walking and riding in buses and the lines especially during the rush hours or even, the quieter times. Carry a whistle in your pocket. Use discretion.
Be wary while dozing on buses or lines, as a number of cases have been reported of stolen backpacks, purses and briefcases or items taken from the same, without the owners realizing the theft have already taken place.
We try to avoid the inevitable consequences. Most thieves steal to feed their drug habits about two hundred plus dollars a day. Some are chronic or repeating offenders known to police authorities and a jail sentence gives them, the luxury for food and personal hygiene and then, they are out again. We call it, the “revolving door” of injustice. Some offenders are young and do it for the sheer joy of accomplishing a bad deed, hopefully, they are caught in time to avoid another offence. Due to the sad state of our economy, some do it to feed their families when they are fired or out of job. All offenders have no remorse for the victims.
Unfortunately, these offences have consequences for the victims. Victims are frustrated with the loss, their insurance premiums are increased and some hesitate to report the incident, knowingly, the next insurance premium would increase. These offenders do not realize how much anguish they are inflicting upon the victims whose stolen articles are valuable or irreplaceable heirlooms, treasures belonging to loved ones. It is the same cliché that the crime does not fit the punishment.
Lock up your bikes securely or bring them inside. Engrave personal licence number on various areas of the bike; if found, the number can be traced and the bike may be returned before it goes to the annual police auction. Ear devices are not safe or legal to use. Wear a helmet, use reflectors, lights front and back, know the rules and ride with caution.
Joggers and walkers should exercise with caution. Listening to music with ear devices may be a distraction to intruders or traffic.
Be wary of coyotes in the area. Coyotes resemble dogs but with a longer, fluffy tail which usually hangs downwards. They will bite babies and small children.
The above mentioned crime prevention and safety tips are just guidelines. To obtain more
details, contact the KOM CPC office for pamphlets and further contacts.
Please do check the KOM CPC website for the KOM CPC Newsletter: The Voice to express your opinions and suggestions by email: newsletter@komcpc.ca or komcpc@shaw.ca.
Have a safe Fall season!
