By Alice McFarlane

Reducing crime in rural municipalities

Feb 24, 2022 | 12:15 PM

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is looking for more volunteers to join Rural Crime Watch initiative.

Statistics show areas with organized crime watch programs tend to have a significantly less criminal activity. This includes theft of equipment and grain, vandalism, dumping of garbage, trespassing, break-and-enters, and cattle rustling.

SARM President Ray Orb said rural municipal landowners have been keeping a watchful eye over their land for years because the risk of crime going unnoticed in remote areas. He said SARM’s call to action is for more residents in the 296 RM’s to join as volunteers with local crime watch groups.

“This idea of a Rural Crime Watch Association is exactly what we need for our residents. The only way we will find success with our recently established Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association (SRCWA) is by members joining together to volunteer,” Orb said.

RM’s have struggled with criminal activity for years, with little to no support available due to the vast and remote nature of these areas.

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Orb said if more rural residents and landowners volunteered to join a local crime watch group it could lead to the prevention of criminal activity by providing a seamless network of eyes and ears for police agencies.

“Rural municipalities have the opportunity to band together for a collective goal of community safety. This is a long time coming and we are happy to see this collaboration working in our RM’s,” he said. “Stepping up and representing rural Saskatchewan won’t take up a lot of your time and it’s a necessity in preventing rural crime.”

Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association president Tim Brodt said it’s as simple as taking a ride with a neighbor to check the land.

“Watching for suspicious vehicles and activities while out in your yard using a member call list or “What’s App” to report suspicious behavior in the neighborhood,” Brodt said.

This newly formed collaboration with SARM and Rural Crime Watch is a starting point but the effort to have more rural residents join the initiative continues. Volunteers work together in their RM’s to report suspicious activity immediately to the RCMP or 911.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW