In the month of January, there has been an increase in Break and Enters to homes and Theft from Vehicles in the Boyle Street and McCauley area.

One of the most important things that you, as a resident, can do when you or a neighbour is the victim of any type of crime is: report it! The frequency and severity of occurrences will increase if they are not dealt with. One other important thing is to report suspicious people or activity. You are familiar with your neighbourhood. If someone is snooping around give the police a call. It may just prevent a crime or even an arrest may be made.

The importance of reporting crime and disorder, no matter how big or small, is absolutely vital for the EPS, and for you! There are numerous resources within the EPS that look at crime and disorder, and analyze it for patterns and then send the information out to our front line members so that they can go to the areas that have been targeted by offenders. On a daily basis, this information is provided to the members you see driving or walking in your community.

Each day, our crime analysts review each file that is drawn by the members of Downtown Division, looking for patterns, links, and trends in crimes, including crime types, locations, and methods. From this, target areas are identified, and on numerous occasions the individuals responsible for the crimes are also identified. The final result, although it is not always seen, is often arrests, whether it is in relation to the original crime reported, or for other occurrences. You can see these maps on the internet at http://crimemapping.edmontonpolice.ca.

Each day, the analysts put together a map of the division, which records and illustrates each and every crime that occurs in the division. Further, each report of a disorder issue is also documented in a similar fashion. Each week, the Community Liaison Constables, Community Sergeants, Beat Sergeants, as well as divisional management meet, review, and discuss crime patterns and emerging hotspots that have been identified. From these meetings strategies are discussed and then utilized by the members of Downtown Division to try and curb or solve the issues that have been identified.

Proactive patrols, beat patrols, proactive policing events, and even large scale events like the “Keep The Lights On” project are responses to the emerging crime and disorder patterns that are documented. In many cases, when you see a police car or a police officer in your neighbourhood, they are on their way to a target area. Due to the increase of Break and Enters and Theft from Vehicles in the Boyle Street and McCauley area during the month of January, we put extra police officers on the street during the times these crimes were being committed. Unfortunately, we did not make a specific arrest for these crimes; however, the Break and Enters and Theft from Vehicles have diminished.

The 15 minutes that you spend writing or calling in a report, along with the report of other residents allows the EPS to see where hotspots are, and take measures to address the issues in your community.

The key to all of this is the initial reporting of an incident. EPS cannot address crimes or hotspots if we don’t know about them. Reporting an incident can take as little as 15 minutes. The 15 minutes that you spend writing or calling in a report, along with the report of other residents allows the EPS to see where hotspots are, and take measures to address the issues in your community.

Again, reporting a crime or disorder issue, big or small, allows the EPS to respond to your concerns. Reports can be made by attending a community station, Downtown Division front counter, or, calling in to the police dispatch line any time at (780) 423-4567.

The Edmonton Police Service is proud of it’s partnership in your community. If you see a police officer, take the time to stop and say hi. We work hard in your community to make it a safer place to be 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

_Cst. Wasmuth can be reached at darren.wasmuth@edmontonpolice.ca