New program to assist repeat crime victims in Alberta

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Based on an analysis of calls for service from the public, RCMP Crime Reduction Analysts produce a report of actionable information related to repeat victims of break and enters and crime hotspots.

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Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta will conduct further analysis and distribute a report of crime trends, repeat victims and repeat offenders to all project partners. The RCMP, in coordination with its enforcement partners and citizen-led partners, will then use this specialized report to guide their patrols.

Next is enhanced victim support.

Albertans who have been victimized the most by break and enters will receive an enhanced follow-up from the RCMP either in person or by phone. During the follow-up, RCMP will work to get a better understanding of what happened, provide crime prevention advice and in some cases, arrange a customized home security assessment by an expert to prevent future incidents from taking place.

The third component is providing additional tools for repeat victims.

Albertans hit hardest by break and enters will be equipped with the Trace Pen, a property marking device that will increase the likelihood that stolen property is returned to the owner and that criminals are held accountable.

More innovative tools can be deployed, as appropriate, that will help police identify and arrest criminals operating in the area.

The final piece will be an enhanced investigative response.

Alberta RCMP’s Crime Reduction Units will deploy special operations that will focus on arresting criminals operating in targeted areas. Priority properties will receive an enhanced response from Alberta RCMP’s Forensic Identification Services unit.

A recent analysis by Alberta RCMP indicated that 15 percent of places broken into represent 32 percent of all break and enters – meaning one-third of these properties have been broken into more than once and is likely to be targeted again.

Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Kathleen Ganley says almost a year ago, they launched a seven-point action plan to combat rural crime with the RCMP.

“Since then we have seen a significant drop in property across rural Alberta. We will continue building on that momentum, working with our law enforcement agencies and citizen-led organizations, to support safe communities.”

The new initiative is based on two similar projects in the U.K., the Huddersfield Project and MetTrace Project, which resulted in residential break and enters dropping by approximately 30 percent in targeted areas.

Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki wants Albertans to know that they can count on the RCMP.

“We’re listening to the communities we serve. With the help of our partners, Project Lock Up enables us to respond to the individuals who have been affected most by property crime.”

(With file from Aaron Mahoney – Lethbridge News Now and Alberta RCMP media release)