Mountain View County (MVC) residents are being encouraged to take part in a new online survey regarding rural crime in the region.
The survey is part of a collaborative project between the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA).
Brenna Ortynsky is a member of the undergraduate research group spearheading the project. She spoke about the survey at last week’s Olds and District Rural Crime Watch Association annual general meeting, encouraging residents to take part in the survey.
Survey questions include the following:
• Do you have a fear of summary crimes (non-violent, lesser crimes) in MVC?
• What crimes are you concerned about - theft, drug use, break and enter, trespassing, assault, damage to property?
• Have you been a victim of local crime?
• How often do you lock your house when home?
• How often do you lock your house when not home?
• How often do you lock your vehicle?
• How often do you remove the keys from machinery on your property?
• Does your property have a locked gate?
• Does your property have additional security features, such as CCTV, large dog, firearms/weapons, warning signs?
• What kinds of programs do you think would help lower crime in your area?
• Do you feel there is adequate security/police presence in your area?
• Do you attend community events at the hall or other locations?
• Do you drive outside the community to participate in regularly scheduled recreational activities?
During the rural crime watch meeting, Didsbury RCMP Staff Sgt. Chad Fournier said local police are encouraging residents to take in the survey.
The information gathered could be used to develop crime-fighting strategies, he said.
The complete survey can be found at https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_2ipoKGjKRKO5mRv
The results of the survey will be used in a presentation to Mountain View County council and possibly the RCMP at the 2019 ACCPA conference in Canmore, said Ortynsky.
