About 140 residents attended a town hall meeting at the Eagle Hill Memorial Community Centre on Feb. 20 to voice concerns about rural crime and to seek solutions.
The event was co-sponsored by Red Deer-Mountain View Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen and the Olds-Sundre-Didsbury Rural Crime Watch Association.
The two-and-a-half-hour meeting included a panel discussion and questions from the floor.
The panel was made up of Dreeshen, Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon, Mountain View County (MVC) reeve Bruce Beattie, Red Deer County mayor Jim Wood, Olds RCMP detachment commander Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald, Sundre RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Jim Lank, RCMP Superintendent Garrett Woolsey, and Yellowhead MP Jim Eglinski.
Dreeshen is the co-chair of his party's rural crime task force, which is gathering input for a recommendation report to be made to Parliament.
"Part of what we are trying to do, as a federal rural crime task force, is to gather information and take it to the level where we can actually make a few changes," said Dreeshen.
Rural crime watch association members are "critical" to helping combat criminals targeting farms and acreages, he said.
Public reporting of rural crimes is vital to bringing those criminals to account, said Eglinski.
"Please, if you have had something take place on your property or know somebody who has had a break and enter or some equipment stolen, make sure you inform the RCMP," said Eglinski.
"The RCMP can only do their job as well as the intelligence they gather. Rural crime is up across Canada. It is a big problem and hopefully we can get something done to change the laws."
Superintendent Woolsey said the RCMP is fighting rural crime through a combination of intelligence gathering, call management and the creation of specialized crime reduction teams, including one in central Alberta.
"We've seen increasing crime rates across the board," said Woolsey. "We do think this is going to take a bite out of some of the pressing crime issues that we've seen.
"We're aware that it's a major league issue for everyone. What we've done to meet some of these challenges is to reorganize ourselves internally."
Residents can help the RCMP by providing timely information when they witness crimes or suspicious activities, he said.
"We need the communities to help us and be our eyes and ears on the ground."
Sgt. Lank said tips from the public are vital to fighting crime in rural areas.
"Keep your ears and eyes open and when things are happening don't hesitate. Report it to the police at the time, as soon as you can. If you are able, make notes of the time, date, location and everything you observe and report it right way.
"It doesn't matter how trivial or small you think the information is, it may tie something into other crimes that are occurring. Community involvement is very, very important."
Residents should be encouraged to join rural crime watch associations and/or citizens on patrol groups, he said.
Lank made a brief PowerPoint presentation outlining some recent crime statistics and RCMP strategies to counter crime.
For example, motor vehicle thefts are up 30 per cent and possession of stolen property is up 65 per cent in the southern Alberta RCMP district over the past year.
MLA Nixon said he has been receiving many calls from his constituents concerned about rural crime.
"Rural crime is a serious issue that is taking place in this province right now," said Nixon, adding that he believes there is a need to "get our Criminal Code and our judges in particular to take property crime seriously."
Residents should be encouraged to join citizens on patrol and/or rural crime watch associations, he said.
Reeve Bruce Beattie said he has also heard from residents concerned about rural crime.
"I'm just as frustrated as many of you are and I'm frustrated around the lack of adequate funding, I would say, for the RCMP," said Beattie. "I don't think there are sufficient resources available to them. We have to do our part to help the RCMP achieve what they need to achieve.
"There needs to be a lot more recognition of the damage property crime does to people."
The county works closely with area RCMP detachments to seek ways to reduce rural crime, he said.
Mayor Jim Wood said rural crime is a "very important issue" facing many Alberta rural communities.
"We can have the best system, the best schools and the best roads, but if we don't have a safe community we have a problem," said Wood.
"We can try to lobby government to try to make some change. These increasing crime rates that we are seeing are phenomenal."
Reducing rural crime will need the participation of the justice system, he said.
During the question-and-answer portion of the town hall meeting, one participant asked what steps property owners can take to deter criminals targeting rural locations.
Sgt. Lank suggested residents install trail cameras, which he said can gather valuable information that police can use as part of their investigations into crimes.
"They are simple and you can monitor them remotely if you purchase one with that capability," said Lank.
Residents should photograph and otherwise mark their valuables to help identify items that may be recovered after being stolen, he said.
"So mark your property and keep an inventory," he said.
Another participant called on the province to bring back front licence plates, which he said could be helpful in recording suspicious vehicles.
In response, MLA Nixon asked for a show of hands for those who would support such a change. Many of those in attendance raised their hands.
Staff Sgt. MacDonald said residents should be encouraged to contact police when they witness crimes, using 911 for emergency situations and administration numbers for less serious crimes.
Asked if people witnessing suspected drunk drivers should call 911, he said yes.
MVC councillor Al Kemmere told the town hall that a new memorandum of understanding signed by the provincial rural crime watch association and RCMP is good news for rural communities.
Another participant called for rural property addresses to remain as rural roads and township roads rather than specific site locations.
"All that's going to identify exactly where I live for criminals," he said. "Just leave it where it is please."
The Olds-Sundre-Didsbury Rural Crime Watch Association will hold its annual general meeting on March 28.
"Rural crime is a serious issue that is taking place in this province right now."
