The Edmonton Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) (edmonton.ca/net) works with communities to help solve recurring issues. In their June 2020 newsletter, they discussed the issue of safety. To paraphrase: there are many things that may impact our perceptions of safety. But often, the things that make us feel unsafe are the things that go unreported.
What can you do to improve safety in the community? From the newsletter:
- Get to know your neighbours and the vehicles that belong in your neighbourhood. When you know the people who are from your area you are better able to know when a car or person appears to be out of the ordinary.
- Pay attention to your surroundings as you move through your neighbourhood. Note little details like an open garage door or back gate. Be aware of potential hiding spots, recent vandalism, burned out street lights or unsightly garbage.
Here’s how you can report on some specific things:
| Life, safety or property is in immediate danger or there is a crime in progress | Call 9-1-1 |
| Concerns or information you have about a previous crime | Call the non-emergency line: 780-423-4567 or #377 (on mobile devices). |
| Thefts from vehicles or property damage | You can report these online at edmontonpolice.ca or use the EPS mobile app |
| Graffiti, burned out street lights, unsightly or unkempt properties | Report these to the City of Edmonton Call 3-1-1 or use the Edmonton311 App. |
| Your neighbour’s gate or garage door is open or you see something that makes their property vulnerable, like a broken window | Let your neighbour know |
It can be easier for you to recognize when something seems out of the ordinary because you are most familiar with your community. These types of occurrences can be unnerving and when they go unreported we put the police at a disadvantage because they rely on us to tell them what seems out of the ordinary. Your report is a valuable piece of information, and each time you report, the chances of preventing or solving a crime improves.
Here are two more ways you can help with crime prevention:
- Check out the “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Guide”. To obtain a copy contact net@edmonton.ca or download a copy from the Neighbourhood Empowerment Team’s Tools and Resources page.
- Stay up to date on reported crimes in your area by accessing the Edmonton Police Service’s Neighbourhood Crime Mapping tool.