RCMP to focus on repeat victims of break and enters

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

urtail break and enters in the province.
The Alberta’s RCMP has launched Project Lock Up, a new victim-focused initiative that brings law enforcement agencies and citizen-led crime prevention groups together to provide an enhanced and escalating response to Albertans who have been hit hardest by break and enters.
The new initiative, to be rolled out in partnership between the Alberta RCMP, Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta, Alberta Sheriffs, Alberta Community Peace Officers, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Branch, Alberta Rural Crime Watch Association, Alberta Citizens on Patrol and Insurance Bureau of Canada, consists of four key components: more patrols in the hardest-hit places; victim follow-up from the RCMP either in person or by phone; additional tools for repeat victims such as a Trace Pen, a property marking device; and enhanced investigative response.
A recent Alberta RCMP analysis indicated that 15 per cent of places broken into represent 32 per cent of all break and enters. That means one third of these properties have been broken into more than once and is likely to be targeted again.
“Project Lock Up is truly an intelligence-led and collaborative approach to Albertans who have been victimized by break and enters,” said Supt. Peter Tewfik, officer in charge of Crime Reduction Strategies with Alberta RCMP. “We find the people who need the most support and along with our partners, work with them to ensure they are never targeted again.”
The new initiative is based on two similar projects in the U.K.: the Huddersfield Project and MetTrace Project, which resulted in residential break and enters dropping by approximately 30 per cent in targeted areas.
The Trace Pen property marking devices are available through local Citizens on Patrol and Rural Crime Watch groups.