The Edmonton Police Service Community Action Team (CAT) will be focusing its resources on reducing the growing number of property crimes along Alberta Avenue, and is encouraging neighbourhood residents to participate in the efforts.

While the number of violent crimes in the area has not increased, property crimes have doubled over last year at this time.

So far in 2015, there have been 23 break and enters, 28 thefts from vehicles, and 20 thefts of vehicles.  This is up significantly from this time in 2014 when there were only eight break and enters, 15 thefts from vehicles, and 11 thefts of vehicles.

“We’ve seen some major increases in property crimes such as break and enters and auto thefts in the area, possibly because of the unseasonably warm weather and more people walking outdoors, including thieves,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Curtis Hoople with EPS Northwest Division.  “We can’t make it colder to keep the thieves indoors, but we can increase police enforcement in the area and engage the community in crime prevention strategies to bring these numbers down.”

For the CAT deployment from Jan. 21 to 24, 2015, highly-visible EPS units will be patrolling identified hot spot locations for suspicious activities and increasing enforcement.  Police will be looking out for prolific offenders, executing criminal warrants, and checking that individuals are complying with their court-imposed release or curfew conditions.  Various social agencies will also be connecting vulnerable persons with needed services as well.

Members of the public are invited to come out and speak with officers about their particular crime problems, receive crime prevention materials, and enjoy free refreshments during the CAT deployment along Alberta Avenue on Friday evening.

CAT Community Crime Prevention Connection
Alberta Avenue Community League Hall, 9210 – 118 Avenue
Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, 6 to 9 p.m.

The CAT deployments are part of the EPS Violence Reduction Strategy and have been successful in reducing crime and disorder in at-risk communities across the city.  For more information about the Community Action Team (CAT) and the Violence Reduction Strategy, please visit www.edmontonpolice.ca/CAT.