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Without further adieu, the Hot Topic question of the week: What would the Mountain gain if MP Chris Charlton got a cabinet post out of the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition in Ottawa?

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1. Everyone become the eyes and ears for the police. Use 911 for suspicious activities

2. Have a mechanic install a "kill switch" to deaden the electical system

3. Disconnect battery cable at night. Thief has no time to look under hood.

4. Leave sign in window. "Car won't start. No battery"

5. Park car in well lit area, close to entrance of a mall. Thieves don't like company.

Les Ketchem

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I believe people themselves must take a certain amount of responsibility for the increasing number of auto thefts and thefts from autos.

I have walked through parking lots at various malls and noted you can almost spot the places a driver has visited by looking at the shopping bags stacked in the back seat. Zellers, Wal-Mart, Future Shop, Winners, almost all major stores for that matter, have very distinctive bags, making it easy for the discerning thief to pick and chose the vehicle he or she wants to burglarize. In my car, you will never find anything in my back seat except for my snow-clearing brush.

Also, a tip to women, do not get out of your car, pop the trunk and place your purse inside. For someone who is up to no good, this is pretty easy to spot in the middle of a crowded parking lot.

Thanks to the Mountain News for this new feature. I hope others will respond to future questions. It should make for a good weekly read.

Debra D.

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Forget auto theft. What about government theft? Who voted for the Three Stooges? Heck, the Liberals had no faith in Dion and couldn't wait to dump him. But because they believe they have a God-given right to govern, they think we will believe in him all of a sudden?

GG

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Not sure where to start on this topic! All I know is that sick feeling of realization that your beloved family car is gone.

I not only experienced this once but twice! The first time was when my hard-working mother put in 12 hours on the night shift at the Henderson hospital. After a long night all you want to do is get into your car and go home. To her surprise her beloved Plymouth Acclaim had been stolen out the Henderson parking lot on Concession Street. We went through the process of calling the police etc., with little encouragement that the vehicle would be found. We decided to take matters into our own hands and we looked for the vehicle ourselves.

To our amazement we found the car two days later on the Mountain brow not far from the hospital itself with a bunch of young punks around it. The car suffered a damaged door and the gas tank was empty, the youngsters that took the car had a great night of joy riding as it would seem. We called the police but of course the joy riding freeloaders got away.

The second time the same car was stolen two years later right out of my parents' driveway. I ran out the side door and caught three young men jumping into the car and quickly pulling out of the driveway and there I was running down the street in vain, chasing them in my bare feet and pyjamas. My parents called the police and this time they caught them at the bottom of the Jolley Cut. They arrested one of the men and the other two got away. So what is one to think?

First of all, if you car is missing check the mountain brow, I am sure you will find it there.

Secondly, I think the law needs to be a little tougher on these thieves especially when they have been prosecuted more than one time.

If they are under age, don't baby them! if you do the crime then you should do the time!

Last but not least, get yourself some good insurance!

E. M.