Realtors aid in search for missing children
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Updated: October 30, 2009 3:06 PM
Realtors in Greater Victoria are signing up to help in the search for missing children.
The Victoria Real Estate Board recently linked its Touchbase communications system to B.C. RCMP's Amber Alert program, which sends instant information when a child is missing in the province.
"It makes a whole lot of sense when you consider we have 1,300 members out on the road at all times," said Chris Markham, president of VREB. "There's a good chance (we'd see something useful). We're sprinkled all over town."
Touchbase can disseminate instant messages to realtors' mobile devices.
Amber Alert has been activated eight times in B.C. since it was adopted in May 2004. It hit home for the city in July 2008 when a 10-year-old girl went missing from her home in Cumberland and was found in Victoria.
Amber Alert is not issued for every missing child – only if police believe the child has been abducted and is in danger. Normally alerts are sent to the media, especially TV and radio, to distribute the message and enlist the public's help in a search.
Apart from media and realtors, school districts, airports, B.C. Ferries, the Transportation Ministry and border services receive Amber Alert messages.
ecardone@vicnews.com
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