Chestermere RCMP is working to reduce crime in the community by continuing to monitor habitual offenders and persons of interest.
The Chestermere RCMP’s goal is to reduce crimes in the area by 10 per cent using strategies and programs such as the Habitual Offender Management, Persons of Interest, Voluntary Registry of Home Surveillance, and the Chestermere Theft Prevention Program.
“Our core programs have been successful,” said Chestermere S/Sgt. Mark Wielgosz while presenting the RCMP Quarter 1 Report to Council on Aug. 20.
“Our first goal of the year remains a reduction of property crimes, especially theft from motor vehicles, theft of vehicles, and break and enters,” he added.
Persons who have a high impact in the community from the crimes they have committed, the seriousness of the crimes, and the likelihood of reoffending have been selected for the Habitual Offender Program, in which they are regularly monitored by Chestermere RCMP.
Currently, two habitual offenders have been selected.
“One resides in Chestermere, we have initiated checks on the person who has so far remained compliant, which was something we were happy to see,” Wielgosz said.
He added, “Our second offender is currently incarcerated, and we are continually monitoring when that person will be released.”
Chestermere RCMP expect that the habitual offender will reside in the community and will be a person they pay special attention too, to ensure they remain a law-abiding citizen.
Chestermere RCMP are also continuing to monitor persons of interest in the community who have been involved in organized crime, have been on parole, probation, or an interim release.
“Our overall goal is to let them know we are aware of their presence here, and we’re here to assist them in maintaining a law-abiding lifestyle,” Wielgosz said.
“We are currently motoring 15 persons of interest,” he said.
To ensure Chestermere remains a safe community, RCMP are partnering with the Calgary Police Gang Suppression Team (GST), which will increase detection of any individuals involved in organized crimes.
Calgary based gang members and associates have been observed in the surrounding area at licensed premises on an increasing basis, Wielgosz said.
To reduce property crime, Chestermere RCMP encourages residents to become involved in the Voluntary Registry of Home Surveillance.
“We have had success with this program in the past, but it is difficult to see participation,” Wielgosz said.
“Our goal is not to be big brother. Our goal is to help identify persons involved in crime, speed up the response time we have in respect to apprehending the individuals, preventing further crimes, and recovering property for a person in our community as quickly as possible,” he added.
Along with the Voluntary Registry of Home Surveillance program, the Chestermere Citizens on Patrol (CCOP) group are working towards preventing crime within Chestermere by patrolling areas of the community on foot to ensure vehicles are locked and secure.
Any vehicles that are found to be insecure will have informative pamphlets left behind on the seat, and a CCOP member will lock the vehicle.
If a vehicle is found running and insecure, the member will knock on the resident’s door to provide preventative information.
“A total of 218 vehicles were checked, 19 were found insecure,” Wielgosz said.
RCMP have seen a reduction of break and enters from 21 to 16, theft of motor vehicles remains unchanged at 14, while theft from motor vehicles was reduced from 73 to 21.
“Main drivers of these reductions involved the successful delivery of the habitual offender and persons of interesting motoring programs,” Wielgosz said.
“A high percentage of crimes remain preventable. Public education has a priority to increase awareness of crime prevention activities, such as the 9 p.m. routine and the Lock it or Lose it program,” he said.
Adding, “If residents can make it part of their regular routine, I believe we would see even further reductions of crimes in these areas.”
However, theft of license plates is problematic for Chestermere RCMP, as property criminals will often steal license plates in an attempt to prevent detection while in the possession of stolen vehicles.
To prevent the theft of license plates, a License Plate Security Screw Program will be launching in which security screws will be available to Chestermere residents.
Once the program launches, residents can collect security screws from the Chestermere RCMP detachment, crime prevention tables at community events, and in partnership with local groups such as CCOP and the Police Communications Committee.
Along with programs and initiatives, the Chestermere RCMP are also present at schools, doing class presentations, facilitating high school CALM classes, participating in lockdown drills, positive ticketing, school sports events, drug awareness, cyber and anti-bullying educational sessions, and traffic safety.
There continues to be a low level of injury collisions in Chestermere, Wielgosz said.
“We are seeking reductions, but if we can maintain the already low levels that would be very positive for our community,” he added. “We can achieve those goals through impaired driving enforcement.”
There have been 76 enhanced shifts completed which produced 1,428 total infractions, where
1,321 drivers were issued violations, 970 of the violations were for speed
“We’re seeing a high degree of compliance with our residents,” Wielgosz said.
