Reducing property crime remains top police priority

Reducing the number of property crimes, which have been a growing problem throughout the province over the past few years, remains a top priority for police, the Sundre RCMP detachment's commander recently told council.

Sgt. Jim Lank outlined his department's annual performance plan for 2017-18 during council's April 18 workshop, when he informed local officials about the continued trend that has kept police departments rather busy throughout the province.

"Property crime in specific has really gone up since 2014," he said during his presentation.

"It's not just Central Alberta, it's all over."

Coun. Paul Isaac asked for the sergeant's insight regarding why that might be the case.

The bulk of property crimes throughout the province are being committed either by structured gangs or career criminals and habitual offenders who have become more organized and aggressive, replied Lank.

"That's not to exclude others who might commit a crime out of opportunity," he added.

"Certainly that's happening, too."

But when considering the majority of break-ins, thefts, and other property crimes, the economic climate is largely irrelevant because career criminals are simply doing what they do for a living, he said.

"I think the economy has a little bit to do with property crime, but honestly it's a very difficult thing to measure."

Isaac said he inquired because perhaps the municipality could be a part of the solution by rolling out preventive programs targeting at-risk demographics. But if the problem is largely the result of habitual offenders from outside of the region, the councillor expressed doubt about what the town is actually in a position to do.

The sergeant confirmed that offenders who come from outside of the immediate area are committing a majority of property crimes in Sundre and the surrounding region.

"So they target these rural areas because they know that they're more isolated," he said, adding it's not uncommon for some criminals to spend time actually staking out homes or properties to get used to patterns to know to hit when owners probably won't be home.

Mayor Terry Leslie wondered at roughly what times this kind of criminal activity typically occurs.

The sergeant answered that most such incidents happen late at night, generally between about midnight to 5 a.m., but that there occasionally are daytime or early evening thefts and break-ins when residents are not at home.

Coun. Chris Vardas was curious to know whether community organizations such as Citizens on Patrol could provide the RCMP with additional assistance in the overall effort to curb increasing levels of property crimes.

Police are aware of the frustration property owners are feeling, especially in the rural areas, and the sergeant said he hopes to help reintroduce to Sundre a COP initiative, which is a community-based but provincially-run program supported by the RCMP.

"It requires a committee with a set of bylaws, policies and rules that need to be followed," said Lank.

"I have worked in a couple of communities in the past that have had a COP program, and it can be valuable."

Volunteers who get involved receive some training from the RCMP regarding how to observe and take detailed notes to report to the authorities, as well as what members can and cannot do, he said.

"COP volunteers essentially set up their own schedules, they work closely with us, there's a process for how they report things to us — typically with cellphones now," he said.

"They can do roving patrols and they can do stationary surveillance, for example on an industrial area where there's been a lot of crime."

However, the major caveat is that COP volunteers do not under any circumstance get involved or place themselves in harm's way, the sergeant said.

"It's a way, I think, that the community can get engaged to try and prevent, deter and maybe even solve some crime. I fully support it. My plan is to be engaged from the beginning — there has been some interest in this program."

An information and organizational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at the Sundre Community Centre.

Among council's many queries was whether the local detachment feels it has adequate resources. There are eight officers in Sundre — six constables, a corporal and the sergeant. But even overt police enforcement won't guarantee criminals change their minds, said Lank.

"There is also a lot of statistics that indicate that visible patrols may deter crime, but it won't stop it," he said.

"Really what it does is it keeps criminals on their toes a little more."

Coun. Cheri Funke asked if the department had an average number of officers as compared with other municipalities of roughly similar size.

"We have more than normal," said Lank.

"I would have to say that the Sundre detachment is, comparatively speaking, sitting quite well for resources."