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August Media Releases

August 31, 2007

Winnipeg Police Service Media Release
For Immediate Release

2007 Firearms Amnesty Program

The Winnipeg Police Service is pleased to participate in the 2007 Firearms Amnesty Program introduced by the Province of Manitoba earlier this week.

Police Agencies across the Province are encouraging citizens to voluntarily turn in all types of weapons, including pellet guns, between September 1st and 30th, 2007.

Discretion will be used and charges will not be laid against individuals unless it is established that the weapon being turned in was used in a crime or was stolen.

Citizens interested in disposing of unwanted, unregistered or illegal weapons are asked to call the Winnipeg Police Service non-emergency line at 204-986-6222 to make arrangements for Police to pick the firearms up. Citizens are asked not to attend police stations in person with the firearms for everyone’s safety.

Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted or unused firearms in order to prevent the firearms from falling into the wrong hands.

Anti-Vehicle Theft Awareness Event

Today, August 31st, 2007 between 12 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Division 14 members of the Winnipeg Police Service will host a one day anti-vehicle theft event in partnership with Manitoba Public Insurance and the Kildonan Place Shopping Centre.

Earlier this summer, the Winnipeg Police Service, Manitoba Public Insurance and the Transcona Community Network participated in a pilot project to offer a vehicle audit and parking lot security program at the Kildonan Place and Crossroads Station shopping centres. The project was created to enhance the community's awareness of the problem of auto theft, to improve safety and to provide a visible auto theft deterrence presence in the parking lots at both locations. Community volunteers including students from local high schools patrolled the lots on a regular basis throughout the summer. Some of these students receive a high school course credit for community volunteerism for their participation and some are keenly interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement.

The event will enable the Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba Public Insurance to:

Further enhance citizen's awareness of the city's auto theft problem
Offer advice to citizens, patrons and vehicle owners on how to best prevent their vehicle from being an auto crime target
Highlight the safety and security benefits of installing an electronic ignition immobilizer
Recognize the value the pilot project has provided to Transcona businesses and the community

Today’s event will feature a wrecked vehicle on display near the front entrance of the Kildonan Place Shopping Centre, creating a visual reminder that auto theft is a public safety issue with the potential for fatal consequences. A continuous-loop video will offer mall patrons information about auto theft in Manitoba, highlighting the seriousness of the issue. Members from the Winnipeg Police Service Stolen Auto Unit and Division 14, participants of the pilot project as well as a Manitoba Public Insurance Auto Crime Issue Specialist will be on hand to provide auto crime awareness information to the public.

Suspicious Death

The Winnipeg Police Service Homicide is continuing to investigate the discovery of a body in the area of Ritchie Street and Mollard Road yesterday afternoon.

The death is being considered suspicious at this time and no further information is available as the investigation continues.

Suspicious Package

Emergency services are currently attending to the Federal Virology Laboratory at 1015 Arlington Street in response to a suspicious package received at that location.

The Winnipeg Police Service Bomb Unit as well as the Winnipeg Fire Department Hazardous Materials Unit will be attending as a precautionary measure to ascertain the contents of the package.

* Information released at 4:15 p.m. August 31st, 2007 *