(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Help wanted: SARM seeks crime fighting volunteers

Feb 24, 2022 | 1:00 PM

They won’t necessarily be wearing a cape or possess any super human powers, but the group that represents Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities believes dedicated volunteers can help put a dent in property-related crime rates.

According to a statement from the Saskatchewan Association Rural Municipalities (SARM), the only way we will find success with the recently established Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association (SRCWA) is if members join together to volunteer. President Ray Orb said 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 RMs. Stepping up and representing rural Saskatchewan won’t take up a lot of your time and it’s a necessity in preventing rural crime,” he said.

SARM’s call to action is for more residents in their 296 RMs to join as volunteers with local crime watch groups.

“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.” shared Tim Brodt, Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association president.

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

Eric Schmalz, Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert and a former RCMP officer, supports the idea behind the association.

“The RCMP suffers from understaffing and they police a broad geographical area and they don’t have the resources to act proactively, effectively, so we need to rely on our own residents to keep an eye out, report crimes when they see them, or as they happen,” he said.

With respect to his own RM, Schmalz acknowledged there has been a recent surge in crime which he hopes plateaus soon.

“Typically it’s cyclical. Crimes are reported and police investigate. The individuals responsible are put in jail but eventually they get out again and start going back to that life,” Schmalz said.

The Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association (SRCWA) was launched last fall, and brings efforts to combat rural crime together; under one provincial umbrella.

The non-profit association is led by SARM, SUMA, Rural Crime Watch members, the RCMP, and the Ministry of Corrections and Policing. It’s a community-led and police-supported program dedicated to preventing and reducing criminal behavior.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell