Project Street Sweeper looks to crack down on property crimes
A serious increase in the number of property crimes being reported across the city is being dealt with through a partnership between Lethbridge Police Service and Lethbridge ALERT.
Project Street Sweeper has been initiated to help deal with a three-year rise in property crime. Many of those crimes are direct spinoff of the city’s drug crisis.
Thefts have increased by 33 per cent and break and enters by 43 per cent.
Further, between Jan. 1 and May 3, 139 vehicles were reported stolen compared to 65 during the same period in 2016. This represents a 113 per cent increase.
Many offenders are stealing to feed their addiction or pay off drug debts.
“It’s something we are always combatting,” Staff Sgt. Jason Walper of Lethbridge Alert said on Thursday. “We do notice trends for property crime increase over the summer. So we decided to ramp up our efforts this summer to prevent that.”
The project aims to apprehend chronic offenders engaged in property crime, reduce incidents and recover stolen items. They are also asking for the public to take an active role in securing their safety and their belongings.
Some of the actions local residents can take include:
• Never leave anything of value inside your vehicle in plain sight. Cash, even small change for parking meters, electronics, sunglasses, clothing and fuel cards are all commonly targeted items;
• Always lock your vehicle and ensure the windows are up;
• Never leave an unattended vehicle running or with the keys inside;
• Park in a garage or well-lit area;
• When working in the backyard, make sure doors to the home are locked;
• Always keep bicycles, lawn mowers, tools, etc. in a locked shed or garage; and
• Install motion-sensor lights at all entrances and garage as criminals prefer to rely on the cover of darkness and a bright light coming on will often thwart a break-in.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, stolen vehicles cost Canadian citizens close to $1 billion per year.
“It’s a huge concern to us,” Walper said.
The issue has also been seen in communities surrounding Lethbridge and, in some cases, could be perpetrated by some of the same people involved in Lethbridge property crimes.
“Crime really knows no boundaries,” Walper said.
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