Preventing rural crime

Prevention can help combat rising rural crime rates by deterring criminals and protecting homes and property, say the RCMP and a rural crime-watch group.

RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said people should look at ways to “harden” their homes and property.

He said there are plenty of steps people can take to deter criminals and reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim.

“You may not be able to prevent all of it, but you may be able to prevent it from coming to you,” he said. “Not all crime is preventable, but some of it is. The more we can dissuade the better.”

Peters said most prevention tactics and strategies are based on the idea that most criminals are looking for easy targets.

Often simple things like locking vehicles, securing valuables and taking basic security measures can persuade potential thieves to move on to another target. Simply locking doors can make a difference, along with removing keys from vehicles.

“Especially when it comes to vehicles,” said Peters. “We know that Alberta is leading the way in the country for stolen vehicles. Roughly 62 a day are stolen in the province and about a third are stolen with the keys. That’s pretty preventable. We could stop 20 vehicles a day from being stolen, that’s an easy one, just by not having keys left in the ignition.”

This goes for ATVs as much for cars.

Peters suggested a variety of steps to deter criminals, such as making homes look lived in when people are away, leaving lights on or using timers and arranging to have snow cleared.

“If it seems like it’s a busy area and people are around, that can help be a deterrent,” he said

Peters said having security systems with visible signs can discourage thieves and gates on driveways can put an obstacle in their way.

“People are less likely to want to walk up a driveway, they would prefer to drive,” he said. “Locked gates can help.”

Peters said to park vehicles out of sight, if possible, either in a building or somewhere they’re not visible from the road. People should also know their neighbours and what vehicles they drive, Peters said.

When installing video cameras, he said it’s important to have a sign letting people know there are cameras in place.

“You might deter it rather than help us solve the crime afterwards,” Peters said.

These steps may not always work in all situations, but he said they could help.

“How do you measure prevention?” he said. “You really can’t. I don’t know that one, you almost have to ask the bad guys.”

Peters has spoken with criminals to learn what they look for and what they avoid. At the top of the list, is the presence of a dog, he said.

“That’s one thing they don’t want to have to contend with,” said Peters.

Ultimately, he said the risk of being caught was a bigger deterrent than charges.

“The certainty of being caught, or being apprehended in the act, that was the best deterrent,” he said. “So, having the appearance of somebody being around, they’ll be able to witness you and identify you.”

When crime does happen, he said it’s critical people report it. This ties in with the new provincial strategy to hire more RCMP intelligence officers and analysts who will be able to connect the dots among seemingly disparate incidents.

“Our analysts, they’re daily going through all the calls that have come in and analyzing that data,” he said.

“If there’s a black F-250 on range roads around Okotoks area and the next day a black F-250 on range roads in the Turner Valley area, then they can piece together that there was a black F-250 stolen out of the Innisfail area and they might just put that together. I’ve seen that. Then we might be able to solve a whole whack of things all at once.”

Dave Culbert, president of the Foothills Rural Crime Watch Association, said awareness and information is important to preventing crime. The association is doing what it can to help, he said, by holding monthly meetings to provide tips and bring in speakers and experts.

He said it’s important people get to know their neighbours to know who belongs in a particular area and who doesn’t.

“You have to watch out for one another and the different comings and goings of vehicles in the area,” said Culbert.

It also helps grow networks among residents to share information about incidents and suspicious vehicles.