By Liam Verster

Crime Stats

Property crime a persistent problem for Beaverlodge RCMP

Feb 24, 2020 | 2:57 PM

Beaverlodge RCMP provided an update on crime rates to the County of Grande Prairie Council, which shows property crime is still a top priority for the officers in the area.

Sergeant Ash Brown, who presented the stats, says while some crimes are decreasing, property crimes are on the rise.

“According to the 2019 stats, we’re looking at a 40 per cent increase in vehicle thefts, 37 percent increase in break and enters. Normal thefts (under $5,000) are down a little bit (10 percent), but it’s property crime. I think property crime here and in Grande Prairie County, in the City of Grande Prairie, we’re all experiencing the same thing.”

He adds that thieves are realizing that vehicles are easy to steal and sell, which is why those numbers are on the rise. The public is advised to not leave the keys inside a vehicle, and not leave it unattended while running because that’s when thieves strike. He says lots of people start up their cars and leave them to warm up, especially during cold snaps, but advises people to sit in them while doing this, to remove the opportunity for thieves.

Browne says they are continuing the fight against crime through a Crime Reduction Strategy, which involves working and engaging with the community, trying to help people facing addictions and mental health issues, and monitoring repeat offenders.

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“We have to make sure that those that are on curfew, that we’re watching them. Those that like to steal stuff, we need to be going to their houses more and knocking on their doors when we’re getting lots of thefts in the area, and say ‘Hey, you’re one of those people who like stealing stuff. Do you have any explanation [to] why stuff in your neighbours went missing.”

Beaverlodge RCMP is fully staffed, with eight active members, though the County has promised to fund two additional enhanced members. There’s still no timeline for when those members will join the detachment.

Brown says those two extra staff will be very helpful in reducing those crime stats.

“When their primary duties aren’t taking calls, they can spend a full shift, they can spend 40 hours a week and 160 hours a month doing nothing but crime reduction. So, that’s checking on offenders who are on curfew and conditions, that’s pulling over suspicious vehicles, that’s patrolling areas that we’re having a lot of break and enters or vehicle thefts.”

He says the impact of the additional members won’t be immediate, but in the months that follow their arrival, they will look at the stats and see how they are doing and what effect those extra members are having.

The Beaverlodge RCMP is also monitoring the region through a Crime Mapping program, which is a province-wide initiative that tracks crimes in Alberta.

“Anywhere that has a gold star in the province, means that in that detachment area, that sees five or more break and enters to a residence. So that would be the highest, so that would get a lot of attention from any police agencies that are in the area, including Fish and Wildlife and that sort of thing. And then there’s silver, which is three or four, and then there’s bronze, which is two plus.”

The map also shows stolen vehicles. Browne says if the map shows any trends, then resources can be directed to try to help reduce these figures in those areas.

Beaverlodge RCMP is continuing its public engagement initiatives, by hosting a Facebook Live video. The video will be held on the Town of Beaverlodge’s Facebook page on Thursday, February 27.