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Keeping an eye on crime

A recent rash in crime has led rural residents to take action. Led by Const. Stacy Campbell of the High River RCMP, citizens from High River’s surrounding area, including Blackie and Cayley, are banding together to form a new rural crime watch.
M.D. of Foothills Councillor Ted Mills at the gate to his property on Apr. 7. Mills encountered an alleged car thief on his property when the individual approached him asking
M.D. of Foothills Councillor Ted Mills at the gate to his property on Apr. 7. Mills encountered an alleged car thief on his property when the individual approached him asking to put air in his tires.

A recent rash in crime has led rural residents to take action.

Led by Const. Stacy Campbell of the High River RCMP, citizens from High River’s surrounding area, including Blackie and Cayley, are banding together to form a new rural crime watch.

Campbell said the upswing in crime is likely correlated to the economic decline and rural residents need to be proactive.

“We want to make people accountable and responsible for their community,” said Campbell. “It’s giving them the power to take back their community.”

The fan-out system will disseminate information from the RCMP to crime watch association members to keep rural residents informed of issues and make them vigilant, she said.

Messages may range from crime trends or ongoing issues to suspicious vehicles and activity seen in the area, she said.

All information will be confirmed and generated by the RCMP and the board and association will manage the crime watch, Campbell said.

Two general meetings have been held so far, including one information session with High County Rural Crime Watch Association president Suzanne Oel and about 100 people came out.

“I think that’s a good start, but I’d like to see 10 times that number of people joining the association,” said Campbell.

Joining the association involves completing an application form and having a basic criminal record check done, she said. Campbell hopes to have the board up and running by the end of June, so the crime watch can get started over the summer.

Board members are required to attend regular meetings, general association members do not have the same stipulation, but will receive fan-outs and information when issues arise, she said.

Though the RCMP will endeavour to use the fan-out in all cases, Campbell said sometimes events unfold too quickly for the crime watch to effectively warn everyone – like in the case of the machete-wielding truck thief in the Mazeppa area on April 1.

“If the members have the ability to send messages, in a situation like that, they could potentially put out to people to stay in their houses, but that one happened so fast I’m not sure it would have been effective in this case,” said Campbell.

MD Coun. Ted Mills, a Blackie-area resident, was approached by the suspect before incident that led to a police pursuit, and said with a crime watch he could have warned more people in the area.

“It’s dangerous when you’ve got these guys running around out here looking for trouble,” said Mills. “They could have a gun, they could be on something, they’re unpredictable and people need to be vigilant and be careful out here.”

While he worked in his shop, he said he heard a truck driving erratically on gravel roads and revving its engine before it entered his yard and parked outside his shop.

The driver insisted he needed air for his tires, but Mills refused and told him to get off his property.

From there, the suspect went to the neighbour’s house and stole a truck, he said, beginning the series of events that ultimately led to him smashing through rural gates and standing in another yard with a machete.

Mills phoned police with the license plate number, but said it would have been even better to also be able to warn area residents, since nobody knew where the suspect was driving or how the incident would end.

“With everything that’s been happening lately, we are more vigilant about what’s going on here now,” said Mills. “We’re not just laidback, we’re paying attention. People need to be aware, and make sure they have gates and they’re being proactive and sign up for the rural crime watch to tighten it up.”

The next meeting for the rural crime watch will be held April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Blackie Community Hall. Anyone interested in being a board member is welcome to attend.

Those interested in joining the crime watch as a member can contact Sgt. Campbell at the High River RCMP at 403-652-2357.

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