Area RCMP detachment officers have told Mountain View County councillors that public input remains a key part of crime reduction efforts in the region.
Didsbury RCMP Staff Sgt. Chad Fournier, Olds RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald, and Sundre Cpl. Joe Mandel appeared as a delegation during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“Public involvement has been very, very integral,” said MacDonald. “The rural crime watch in this area does a wonderful job. They are helping with crime prevention. If an area is less enticing to criminals, they are going to go elsewhere.”
Fournier added: “If there is something out of place, something suspicious, always call us."
The Citizens on Patrol groups in the region have also been doing valuable work with police, he said, adding that local media attention has helped bring “an awareness that people need to get involved” in crime prevention.
The RCMP’s recently-formed crime reduction unit – made up of plainclothes officers and analysts – has also played a key role in targeting criminal activities, particularly property crimes, he said.
Distracted driving remains a concern across the region, he said.
Cpl. Mandel said Sundre is in need of a new detachment building.
The officers presented 2018 crime statistics for persons and property crimes in all three detachments’ rural areas.
Overall property crimes reported declined 36 per cent in Olds, 43 per cent in Didsbury and 34 per cent in Sundre compared with 2017 totals.
There were four reported sexual assaults in the Didsbury detachment area, one in Olds and none in Sundre.
There were 10 assaults reported in the Olds area, 22 in Didsbury and 17 in Sundre.
There were four kidnapping offences reported in Didsbury, none in Olds and none in Sundre.
There were two extortion offences reported in Didsbury, one in Sundre and none in Olds.
There were eight criminal harassment offences reported in Olds, 11 in Didsbury and four in Sundre.
There were three uttering threats reported in Olds, 11 in Didsbury and 17 in Sundre.
There were 24 break-ins reported in Olds, 49 in Didsbury and 19 in Sundre.
There were 11 theft of motor vehicle offences reported in Olds, 28 in Didsbury, and eight in Sundre.
There were five thefts over $5,000 reported in Olds, five in Didsbury and six in Sundre.
There were 38 thefts under $5,000 reported in Olds, 134 in Didsbury and 58 in Sundre.
There were eight possession of stolen goods reported in Olds, 45 in Didsbury and 11 in Sundre.
There were nine frauds reported in Olds, 28 in Didsbury and 25 in Sundre.
There was one arson offence reported in Didsbury, one in Sundre, and none in Olds.
There were 49 mischief to property reports in Olds, 78 in Didsbury and 70 in Sundre.
In all cases, except fraud, the property crime totals were down markedly from 2017 in all detachments.
There were 28 false alarms reported in Olds, 75 in Didsbury and 33 in Sundre.
There were 99 suspicious persons reported in Olds, 138 in Didsbury and 108 in Sundre.
There were 28 injury motor vehicle collisions in Olds, 19 in Didsbury and 10 in Sundre.
The RCMP delegation appearance included a 15-minute in-camera session.
