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*94 PROFTILE ESCORT LX 4â€"D00R "PROFILE® Crime Prevention Ontario opens first storefront office at Oakville Place _ After all, the whole purpose of the group â€" which officially opens its firstâ€"ever storefront office Tuesday in Oakville Place â€" is to spread the word about everything from crime prevenâ€" tion programs to security tips. To make this possible, its staff has cast a wide net to gather the best of what law enforcement agencies, citizens‘ groups and schools have devised. "Why reâ€"invent the wheel and create our own programs when there are thousands already out there?" says CPO Provincial Community Coâ€"ordinator Marnie Amodeo. A case in point is the Combat Auto Theft program which has been running successfully in British Columbia. This involves the use of a special sticker which tells police the car is never on the road between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. and gives officers the By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff he sharing of information may be merely business as usual for many organizations, but to Crime Prevention Ontario, it‘s everyâ€" thing. 1295 1095 1095 Serving you for over 8 years. Open 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday Reservations * 338â€"1773 right to stop the vehicle if it is. The Canadian Automobile Association and Insurance Bureau of Canada are currently looking over its budget. After the initial cost of starting the program, it runs itself. Amodeo says CPO plans to mimic many other programs from all over North America and internationally then try and implement them across Ontario. In one or two months CPO‘s fullyâ€"stocked database will be availâ€" able to anyone in Ontario who wishâ€" es information â€" no matter where they are in any of CPO‘s nine zones. As such, the group acts as an interâ€" mediary between law enforcement agencies and the public. "Why reâ€"invent the wheel and create our own programs when there are thousands already out there?" Marnie Amodeo Sometimes this necessitates conâ€" ducting programs in schools. (One valuable tool is "Cops For Kids," an eightâ€"song CD and cassette develâ€" oped by Burlington businessman Tom Dykes for Waterloo Regional Police and endorsed by CPO.) Realizing crime often equals opporâ€" tunity, CPO is interested is arming everyone with the tools to sideâ€"step unfortunate situations. CPO â€" a registered charitable, nonâ€"profit organization â€" is a subâ€" committee of the Ontario Association (See ‘Crime‘ page 5) "Police officers cannot do it all," she says. "People have to take responsibility for themselves." "Part of our mandate is to become a household name in crime prevenâ€" tion," said Amodeo. "People can knock on our door six days a week." CPO has been around since 1988, but rising crime rates and public conâ€" cern prompted a renewed push in January of this year. The main probâ€" lem, Amodeo explained, is one of perception. Those wishing information can call 844â€"4594 or 1â€"800â€"668â€"0261. (The Oakville Place storefront is down the hall across from the entrance to Food City.) Do You Know Your Legal Rights? McLâ€"EOD HORNER * Family Law * Real Estate * Wills Estates * Company Law * Senior Citizens Law * Civil Litigation Legal Aid Accepted 314â€"345 Lakeshore Road East Oakville, Ontario 338â€"2555 Barristers Solicitors