Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 3, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba a4 Winnipeg free press thursday August 3, 2006 abduction aftermath blown tire a big Giveaway garage service manager helped police identify paedophile by Bruce Owen Lynnette Luypaert was Only doing her Job but it proved to be critical in identifying repeat paedophile Peter Whit More As the suspect who snatched Young Zachary Miller from his Saskatchewan Home last sunday the free press has Learned. Luypaert the service manager at the Whitewood service Centre took Down the vehicle identification number Vin of Whitmore a Van Friday morning when he came in to the garage get a blown tire replaced. In the Short time after 10-year-old Zachary was reported missing ramp Learned through his family and others about a suspect who a been hanging around in the area for the past few Days. Ramp also Learned the same Man was at the Whitewood service Centre two Days earlier. Luypaert was called at Home by her Boss and asked to open up the shop to help ramp. She gave them the invoice for the vans tire repair. On it was the Vin and police used it to Trace the vans ownership to identify Whitmore. Each vehicle has its own Vin which is recorded on provincial vehicle registration databases and garages routinely write it Down on invoices when doing service work. The vans Vin Lead to Saskatchewan ramp issuing an Amber Alert which within minutes broadcast a description of the Van and Whitmore a name across Western Canada. Whitmore gave himself up to police Early yesterday about 10 hours after a suspicious Farmer spotted the Van at an abandoned farmhouse just South of Whitewood. Miller was also found and soon reunited with his family. Police also recovered Jordan Bruyere a 14-year-old Winnipeg boy who was reported missing to police by his family july 22. Luypaert 40, downplayed her role in helping ramp identify Whitmore say ing the focus should be on Millers Safe return. I a just glad everything turned out the Way it did she said. I a just glad we were Able to she also said her role in breaking the Case Speaks to the advantages of living in Rural Canada. It shows the Benefit of living in a Small town she said. Everyone knows one she and Whitewood service Centre owner Kevin White said ramp investigating Millers disappearance quickly Learned Whitmore a Van had been at the garage Friday morning. But As it was sunday it was closed. Mounties called White but he was at the Lake and did to Check his messages right away. When he did he said he quickly got in Contact with Luypaert and she immediately opened it up for police. easier Access to registry expected sex offenders in the province. Many Manitoba government. Of them have court orders against we re probably the leading Agency them restricting of its kind in Canada he added. Their movements attorney general Gord Mackintosh and All have to Regis sure Ter once a year sup we could plying a current address and new use More photo. Officers. We have a lot of there a a lot investigations on the go he said. We try of people to get these Guys to out there comply. Sure we could ? sgt. Dave use More officers. Mcinnis who there a a lot of peo runs the National ple out sex offender he said the unit registry works closely with Federal parole ser vices and provincial probation officials to track offenders. Its funded by the comes with ground Sheet ladder vacuum system child proof cover & 1200gph filter pump. Limited Supply Waverley @ Scurfield 488-1499 Sargent & Berry 786-6957 Lagimodiere @ Grassie 654-3847 1-800-665-1411 visit has been very supportive of this unit. When we told him what we needed he did to blink an an example of How the unit works was the arrest Early yesterday in Winnipeg of a 21-year-old Brandon Man for sexual assault and forcible confinement last month. The Man had been stopped in Portage la Prairie for impaired Dri ving but bolted before ramp could arrest him. Mcinnis said his unit got a tip about the Man and staked out a Winnipeg address for about 10 hours waiting for him to show up. keeping kids Safe from predators by Carol Sanders parents need to smarten up and form closer relationships with their kids if they want to protect them from paedophiles says the head of the ramps National missing children a services. Parents must be conscious of the fact that if an adult wants to be with your child More than you do it has to raise a red Flag said staff sgt. Roger Martin in Ottawa. The advice id give to a Parent is child abduction is a crime of Opportunity he said. A child has to be readily available and considered a Low his office works with police services and agencies like child find Manitoba to help in the investigation when children Are abducted. According to child find Manitoba paedophiles often target neglected needy children often from troubled Homes. There Are too Many cases where kids Are left on their own More than they should be said Martin. They need to know there a safety in numbers. For those kids who May not be with their parents often going to play in a playground or going outside and walk ing around on the streets Don to go alone said Martin. Go with a Friend. If you sense any danger run away he said. To prevent a child from being molested people need to know the enemy ? who chances Are is usually a Friend. Often you hear of a child being abused by a Neighbour or a Friend of the family or a family member. More often than not that a the Way it happens he said you Don to want to go out and Tell kids they can to Trust anybody ? a teacher coach priest school bus Driver. The Basic Rule is always Check first with a Parent before you get in a car or go any where with anyone he said whether its a family Friend Uncle or parents have a really important role in child abduction prevention said mar tin. The key is always one of the biggest challenges we have these Days is luring from the internet he said. Parents Arent often computer savvy enough to know about it. Learn to use the internet to understand what your child is doing Martin said. You need to be smart and set some rules. Monitor your child and be Alert to signs of changes in their behaviour.?. How to keep kids Safe. Know where your kids Are at All times their friends their daily activities. Be sensitive to changes in your child a behaviour ? they re a signal you need to talk about what caused them. Be Alert to teens or adults paying too much attention to your child or giving them inappropriate gifts. Teach your children to Trust their own feelings and that they have the right to say no. Listen carefully to your children a fears. Teach your children that no one should approach them or touch them in a Way that is uncomfortable if it does happen. Remember children Seldom lie about it ? they need to feel you believe them. Assure them you will protect them from further harm. Respect the child a privacy ? be careful not to discuss it in front of people who Don to need to know about it. You must Alert the child Protection authorities and the police. If you think the child has been physically injured get medical Atten Tion. Consider the need for counselling or therapy for the child. What Are the signs. Changes in behaviour fearfulness excessive crying. Changes in bed wetting night mares fears of going to bed. Acting out inappropriate sexual activity. A sudden acting out of feelings or aggressive behaviour. Regression to baby like behaviour clinging. School or behaviour problems. Changes in toilet training habits. A fear of certain people places or activities. Bruises rashes cuts limping poorly explained injuries. Pain itching bleeding fluid or rawness in private areas ? source child find Manitoba police want help in abductions by Bruce Owen police will Likely get easier Access to the National sex offender registry some time in the new year the ramp officer who runs the registry in Manitoba said yesterday. Officers say the registry could be a help in investigating abductions. Sgt. Dave Mcinnis who runs the National sex offender registry nor in Manitoba said Law enforce ment officials from across Canada Are to meet in Quebec City in october to discuss making the registry less restrictive. They re All aware of this and Sug Gesting areas where it has to be tweaked Mcinnis said adding fed eral Public safety minister Stockwell Day is also aware of the Issue. The government is pro police Mcinnis said. Its a very Good environment for the two year old nor was criticized by police this week As being too limiting. While the recently formed 11-Mem?Ber integrated ramp Winnipeg police High risk offender unit has easy Access to the nor other police units do not. City police Insp. Al Scott said police need direct evidence a sex crime has occurred to search the database for possible suspects they can to search it for abductions. Mcinnis said the restriction will be discussed at the upcoming meeting. He added his High risk offender uni currently keeps tabs on 684 known ;