(Facebook/Miller Contracting)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Prince Albert Construction industry expressing frustrations over spike in crime

Apr 26, 2022 | 4:00 PM

With many local members reporting issues related to theft, the Chairperson of Prince Albert’s Construction Association says he is looking forward to sitting down with local business leaders and police next week to discuss potential strategies.

Dan Yungwirth, who is also the general manager of Miller Contracting, will be among those in the room on May 4, along with members from the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, City of Prince Albert, Prince Albert City Police, and Prince Albert RCMP. The event is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to discuss their experiences with crime, as well as receive advice from a panel of crime prevention experts.

“It’s all over so we all want to work together to find solutions to move forward,” Yungwirth said.

As part of a survey done by the Saskatchewan Construction Association, over 70 local members were asked to provide feedback on crime. Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they had been affected by crime in the last 12 months; and 36 per cent of those indicated they had been hit three times or more. Yungwirth said tools and building materials are being taken.

“As an industry we’ve been really careful the last little while to make sure materials are not sitting around because the value has gone up and up and up,” he said.

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A graph showing 2022’s top five property crimes, compared to 2021. (Prince Albert Police Service)

The value of the items stolen from construction sites ranged from $100 in one night to up to $10,000 for a year long project. Yungwirth said the costs can be both direct and indirect.

“If something like a heater gets stolen that’s curing concrete, and the weather gets cold and that concrete freezes, the concrete has to be removed and replaced,” Yungwith explained. “That could be days or weeks to fix something like that.”

Added to the frustration is that members filing repeated claims are being told by their insurer that if they file another, they run the risk of having their policy cancelled. Yungwirth recalled a conversation he had with one member whose shop had been broken into several times. Despite efforts after each incident to increase security through the addition of lights and heavier doors, the criminals kept coming.

“At some point you have to say I can’t do any more, and on one hand I’ve got people stealing my stuff and on the other hand, my insurer is threatening to cancel my policy. We’re not in a good place,” Yungwirth said.

According to recent stats presented to the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissions, there were, to the end of March, 100 reports of theft to property under $5,000. That represents 18 more than the same three period in 2021. There were 109 vehicle thefts, and 85 break and enters.

The five-year March trend of break and enter types. (Prince Albert Police Service)

Issues related to theft are not isolated to the construction industry, as retail and agriculture are feeling the pinch too. Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), said one way they are trying to prevent loss is through the creation of more rural watch groups

“Also, we are looking for more volunteers in the rural areas to be able to help the RCMP identify things. Just kinda being the eyes and ears of the RCMP,” Orb said.

With respect to what’s going missing, Orb said it’s mainly tools, but added it’s also small machinery and vehicles left parked on the properties.

“We are encouraging farmers as much as possible to get surveillance systems to be able to watch what’s going on; not only in their own yards but in adjacent ones as well,” he said.

The meeting next Wednesday will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coronet Hotel. There is no cost to attend but people are encouraged to register online. Patty Hughes, CEO of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is committed to advocating for the business community and will meet with government, stakeholders and others involved to make the necessary changes the local business community needs to address this issue.

“Whether it is changes in the tendering process or further regulations to make the sale of the items so onerous, we are looking for ideas. And that is where you come in to be part of the solution,” she said. “This is your time to help us help you”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell