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Show i .r , - - -1 i . . .. . i . -j . " 7 J " : 1 ft""' ' 1 i 7A GET TOUGH ON SHOPLIFTERS was what police officers and Vernal merchants decided is necessary to combat the serious problem in the Vernal area. The Area Business Community Committee met with police officers and decided on future school programs to inform juveniles of the penalties of shoplifting. AArcih3iits get tough ; on shoplifting problems t With the attitude of "let's get tough" 'ernal merchants and the ABC bmmittee met with law enforcement fficials and attornies to determine what can be done about shoplifting. "Your best protection is apprehension," ap-prehension," Police Chief Jonathan Jones told the merchants when they asked what can be done to stop shoplifters. The merchants were told that a shoplifter doesn't have to leave the store to be apprehended all that they have to do is conceal merchandise. Sheriff Arden Stewart recommended that the minute a shoplifter is caught by a store employee, call the sheriff's department if it is in the county and give the employee time off to testify when it comes to court. After a juvenile shoplifter is apprehended ap-prehended he is turned to custody of his legal guardian and he will appear before the juvenile court. Maximum sentence is $299 fine and up to six months in jail, said law officers. With an adult a complaint must be filed. Dick Davidson, city attorney, recommended that the merchants come to his office and initiate the complaint. com-plaint. "I have" yet to lose a shoplifting case when the merchant initiated the complaint," Davidson said. County Attorney Whitney Hammond said that there is a rash of forgery going on in Vernal, and merchants should require two identifications with checks, and they should double check the picture on the indemnification to be sure it matches the person, he said. The merchants vowed to have future meetings with the Chamber of Commerce Com-merce to educate employees on how to detect shoplifters. Dwight Wetenkamp, executive vice president of the Chamber, said that time would be given the law enforcement en-forcement officers during the weekly meeting of the Chamber to give a presentation. |