Thousands of Realtors on watch through missing person’s alert program
The Realty Watch program is a standing commitment from the nearly 14,000 Realtors in the Lower Mainland to mobilize in the event of a child or vulnerable person going missing in the community.
This collective pledge from the profession to the public embodies the communityminded approach that Realtors bring to their work every day.
“The Realty Watch Program is both unique and powerful. It can trigger an almost instantaneous mobilization of 14,000 professionals who are also dedicated and eager citizens willing to engage with the police in support of broader community needs,” said Insp. Terry Kopan, Offi cer in Charge, “E” Division Crime Prevention & Program Support Services.
How does Realty Watch work? Realty Watch is a community crime prevention program operating across the Lower Mainland. Police ask for a fan- out when children, seniors or other vulnerable adults go missing.
A Realty Watch fan- out simultaneously text- messages Realtors across the Lower Mainland. Fan- outs are initiated by police and sent by participating real estate boards.
The Realty Watch program has now extended beyond the Lower Mainland. Last fall, the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board ( OMREB) introduced Realty Watch to their communities, which include Revelstoke, Kelowna, and Peachland.
“Seeing the success of the Realty Watch network across the Lower Mainland, our members recognised this program would work well in our area,” said George Cwiklewski, OMREB president.
The BC Northern Real Estate Board is also preparing to bring Realty Watch to its area. With the addition of these boards, thousands more Realtors will be helping police keep a look out for missing people in our communities.
Realtors have found three missing people since the program began 12 years ago.
Realty Watch developed from tragic circumstances. In 1996, a White Rock teen was murdered and later discovered less than four blocks from where she was last seen. Her father had asked for the help of local Realtors suggesting they would be an excellent resource to help search for missing people.
A Realtor’s work brings them into communities daily. They are connected via mobile devices, and can receive an instantaneous message from their professional associations – the real estate boards.
Realtors within the Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Chilliwack real estate boards received 25 police- requested fan- outs to help fi nd missing children and vulnerable adults through Realty Watch in 2011.
For more information about Realty Watch, please visit www. realtywatch. net.