ST. PAUL – Call the police. That’s among the main messages the St. Paul RCMP detachment expressed to residents during a town hall held at Reunion Station on Nov. 20.
Staff/Sgt. Dennis Silliker, detachment commander with St. Paul RCMP, acknowledged concerns expressed by attendees who voiced frustration over the increase of property crimes to homes and businesses in the area.
He said RCMP officers are trying their best to respond to as many calls as they can, and they encourage residents to always report crime.
Some residents at the meeting said they do call the police but, in their experience, the response is slow.
“If you haven’t been getting response and follow-up from my members . . . that’s something we can do better,” said Silliker. “That’s the kind of stuff that I want to know so that we can improve our services.”
Silliker also explained that sometimes, the RCMP may not have an available officer to respond to a call, but information from residents is still important as this allows RCMP officers to compile tangible data to help them identify crime hotspots in the community.
At the same time, having crimes reported will also help the RCMP show the government if more resources, such as more officers, may be required in a community.
Stolen items
A resident at the town hall asked if the RCMP is seeing a trend of stolen items being sold through online marketplaces, like Facebook Marketplace, and asked how someone - who may have seen their stolen property online - would retrieve that property.
Silliker noted the RCMP recently did an undercover operation to recover an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) identified on Facebook Marketplace. “If you see your property on there, let us know and we will investigate.”
A/Cpl. Dustin Frick with the St. Paul detachment also advised residents to collect and save information of their valuable items, whether it is a leaf blower, a chainsaw, or a vehicle.
“The big thing that we find . . . is that when people report stuff and say, ‘My [black] chainsaw was stolen’,” it makes it more challenging for the RCMP to verify a claim, Frick said. Using the chainsaw example, the RCMP could have multiple black chainsaws retrieved.
The more specific information the RCMP has on stolen items, like the colour, a photo of the item, the shape, or the serial number - the easier it is for the RCMP to return the stolen items.
Security and rural crime
Silliker acknowledged the increase in rural crime is an epidemic. “Gone are the days where we can leave our vehicle running with our keys in the ignition,” he said.
He encourages the public to be more cautious in order to protect themselves, their property, and their business. For businesses, this could mean installing cameras, more lights, or fences to deter crime.
Amid increasing crime, some residents in St. Paul are taking matters into their own hands to protect their homes and families.
Resident Chris Graham was present during the town hall. He said he built a security system in his home - within the limitations of the law.
He installed a metal fence around his yard, as well as an advanced 300-foot range infrared video surveillance system. “Is that paranoid? No, that’s being proactive,” he said.
“I have to look after my family . . . [and] my wife . . . we worked hard for what we have,” said Graham. “You’re welcome into my house if I ask you to come, but don’t just come into my property or try to break in.”
Graham acknowledged the steps he has taken are not ideal, but he fears that “Society is getting worse.”
“So, what do you do? You build a castle and say, ‘Get the hell off my property,” said Graham, adding, “Nothing’s changing. It’s getting worse.”