Thank you to everyone who attended the town hall meeting we had yesterday with the Calgary Police Service on crime and safety in Ward 6. Over 175 residents attended!

For those of you who may have missed the meeting, here is a high-level summary of what was discussed yesterday.

Crime Trends and Statistics

While overall violent crime in Ward 6 is decreasing, we have seen a recent uptick in break-and-enter cases. Of these break-and-enter cases, about 70-80 percent of all cases are “crimes of opportunity”. This means that the perpetrators of these crimes see that they have the chance to commit an act in a moment and seizes the opportunity.

Most of this crime is actually preventable – perpetrators are actively seeking unlocked cars and doors.

What to do if you see suspicious activity?

If you see suspicious activity, please call the non-emergency police line at 266-1234. If you witness an active crime, please call 9-1-1.

What should I do with my doorbell camera footage?

If you capture suspicious activity on your doorbell, the Calgary Police Service encourages residents to submit this footage. You can do so by emailing [email protected]

Moreover, while sharing information on Facebook is encouraged, please be sure to contact the Calgary Police Service first with any information. Oftentimes crime goes unreported –it is up to all residents to ensure the CPS is informed of any potential crime.

What is the Calgary Police Service doing in my area to prevent crime?

The Calgary Police Service monitors areas based on the reports that they receive. As a result, your community may see an increase in patrols if there are more reports filed.

You may have noticed the HAWCS helicopter flying above your communities. HAWCS flies 24/7 and takes off and lands at different times during the day as the call load dictates. The HAWC helicopter responds to life-threatening incidents, air support for ground units, and has an increased efficiency to detect, prevent and reduce crime through aerial patrols. 

The helicopter is used in all types of calls. The police helicopter is not used for photo radar in the air but if the crew observes a vehicle that is committing an offence, a call is placed to the ground units in the area to deal with the offender. The helicopter can get from one end of the city to the other very quickly because other than air traffic we don’t have the same traffic that the officers on the ground have to contend with. 

The police helicopter is a very useful tool in keeping the citizens of Calgary safe and providing much needed aerial support to members of the CPS that work on the ground. Last year alone the helicopter responded to 4,887 calls for service. 

What Else Can I Do to Keep Myself Secure?

The Calgary Police Service is encouraging Calgarians to establish a 9 p.m. Routine to help them secure their property before heading to bed.

The routine recommends:

• Removing valuables from vehicles.
• Ensuring vehicles are locked, windows are closed and if possible, parked in a garage.
• Closing garage doors and windows.
• Locking any person-doors in the garage, including those leading into a house.
• Checking that all house doors – front, back, side and garage – are locked.
• Ensuring all windows are shut.
• Turning on an exterior light.