INNISFAIL - A two-day operation by an RCMP bicycle team probing criminal hot spots has resulted in multiple criminal charges and the issuing of more than two dozen tickets, including positive ones for children.
Between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. on July 26 and 27, Innisfail RCMP deployed a two-member bicycle patrol around Innisfail.
This was a proactive initiative to focus on police visibility and interaction with the community and to enable members to gather intelligence and increase enforcement within the community, said Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk in a news release.
"Property crime such as theft of vehicles, break and enters and thefts from parked vehicles remains a high priority for Innisfail RCMP," he said. "Property crimes are mostly crimes of opportunity, which means that the criminal is looking for unlocked vehicles or houses where they can easily steal property.
"Through the use of crime mapping, Innisfail RCMP was able to identify 'hot spots' where a larger number of property crimes have been reported within the community," added Matechuk.
He said bike members focused on targeted patrols around these "hot spots" and laid six Criminal Code charges, including breaches of release conditions and impaired driving. Local Mounties also handed out 13 provincial tickets, including liquor and cannabis charges, said Matechuk, adding local RCMP also handed out one provincial administrative licence suspension.
On the good side, the cycling police team gave out a dozen "positive tickets" where the public was rewarded for following the law, such as children wearing their bike helmets.
"Members interacted with the community and gathered intelligence as they conducted these patrols," said Matechuk. "Through the use of intelligence-led policing, the Innisfail RCMP are committed to public safety and will continue to utilize crime reduction strategies to deter crime in our community."
