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Community Police Liaison
By Marylin Hodge
Posted Mar. 2008
Crime Report
Although I have not been
notified of any reported crime in our neighbourhood between March 5th
and April 15th, there have been some frightening crimes close
to home. There were drive-by shootings on Ling Road and on Progress
Avenue near Markham Road. Immediately after the shooting on Ling Road,
the police received several calls with very good leads and quick arrests
were made. The two parties involved in the shooting on Progress knew each
other and came into Scarborough from another area. In order for everyone
to get a good perception of Scarborough, Superintendent Paul Gottschalk is
asking the media to refrain from using Scarborough and Malvern when
reporting crimes.
Community Response Line
416-808-4308
This line has been set up
for reporting non-emergency problems and concerns that you may have in the
area. Please leave a brief voice mail message expressing your concern, as
well as your name and phone number. Someone from 43 Division will get
back to you within 48 hours. Your call may be the call that gives the
police the last detail that they need to solve a crime.
Crime Stoppers
416-222-TIPS
Call to give anonymous
information about a crime.
Crime Stoppers is working
hard to make our community a safer place. You will never be asked to
leave your name and could be given a cash reward for giving information
that leads to an arrest. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to ‘Call
Display’. Toronto Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community program which
encourages people to leave tips anonymously. It is also hoped that local
students will make use of this number as well.
Community Alerts:
Have you signed up?
Go to:
www.torontopolice.on.ca/d43/ and click on Sign-up for Community Alerts
and follow the prompts. I recommend that all Centennial residents
subscribe – it’s free – and it’s the fastest way the Toronto Police
Service can communicate to local residents about Crime and Safety within
43 Division.
News from 43 Division
With spring and summer
weather upon us, efforts are underway to target disorderly conduct in
green areas around residential areas. Chief Blair has authorized
additional funds to bring in off-duty officers to patrol for drinking,
drug use and prostitution.
Street Gangs
There are two types of
street gangs. They are the organized criminal ones and the young street
kids. The newest street gangs are from two-parent homes in affluent areas
and not single parent, low income areas. Parents are advised to be on the
lookout for initiation ceremonies – where kids get violently assaulted for
13 seconds “to prove they are gang worthy”. The latest level of
commitment is to have a cigarette burn into the flesh under an eye to form
a tear mark burn.
Signs to look for include:
Ø
Changes in
behaviour,
Ø
Withdrawal
from the family,
Ø
Your child
no longer brings his or her friends around,
Ø
Changes in
clothing (The red and blue associated with gang colours is not as
important as it used to be, but it is still prevalent).
Young people might be
wearing red shirts and shoelaces or wearing a red Blue Jays baseball hat
with a red logo. Parents are advised to keep an eye on their kids and to
step in and to seek professional help, if they suspect that their child is
involved in a gang.
Marilyn Hodge – Co-Chair
43 Division Community
Police Liaison Committee
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