| September 11, 2009 Civil Forfeiture Grant Helps Abbotsford Police Track Car Thieves ABBOTSFORD – The Abbotsford Police Department will be implementing a new GPS tracking device aimed at catching car thieves, with the help of $8,000 from the provincial government. “The Civil Forfeiture funding program is the perfect way to support local law enforcement,” says Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen. “This new crime fighting effort will help the Abbotsford police improve the efficiency of the way they investigate major crimes like vehicle theft. I am glad to see this grant money being used in such an innovative and functional way.” As part of their Crime Reduction Strategy, the Abbotsford Police will be purchasing a portable GPS Tracking Device. This device has proven effective in helping to apprehend car thieves. Use of the tracking systems also save the police the expense of having to tie up staff resources setting up surveillance on located unoccupied stolen vehicles. Vehicle thieves will often park a stolen vehicle in an inconspicuous place for later use. When an unoccupied stolen vehicle is located the GPS tracking device is installed on the vehicle. The device will alert the police when the vehicle begins moving and will point to its location using GPS. This allows the police to follow the vehicle from a safe distance undetected. When the culprits next stop the police are able to apprehend the occupants. B.C.’s three-year-old civil forfeiture office has acquired $7.5 million in cash and assets to date. The Civil Forfeiture Act enables the Supreme Court to order the forfeiture to the Province of property acquired as a result of, or used to further, unlawful activity. Proceeds from the sale of forfeited assets go into a special account that is used, in part, to compensate victims of unlawful activity and help prevent or remedy the effects of crime. In addition to more than 40 local projects that have received up to $20,000 each, the special account has benefited the Vancouver Police Department’s Con Air program and victims of an unlicensed investment scheme. -30- | |
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