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West Lake area
Written by Frank Peebles
Citizen staff
Sunday, 26 April 2009
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Neighbours form Rural Crime Watch Neighbours have banded together and gotten help from the authorities to deal with some residents who are causing them concern.
The story was first broken by The Citizen that a neighbourhood in the area of West Lake, although not bordering the lake itself, was on high alert. A Rural Crime Watch meeting was called last week to bring in the RCMP, civilian crime prevention specialists and the Conservation Service to get the neighbours with the program.
RCMP spokesman Const. Gary Godwin said, "A lot of things came out of that meeting that we the RCMP were not aware of, and we will be taking that information into our considerations. And it galvanized that group of residents."
The meeting was in the wake of alarming visits to at least five homes in the area, some more than once, of girls who appeared to be sex trade workers or street-involved. All were fleeing a particular home. Some were openly frightened. It happened enough times that the neighbours in the surrounding area banded together to protect themselves and the Rural Crime Watch idea emerged.
"I was actually shocked to have Const. Godwin there, he wasn't on the original list of presenters," said the neighbourhood's Rural Crime Watch co-captain who did not wish to be named. "Having him there gave us more of an assurance that the RCMP are listening to us and they do care what's going on. We know better now there is only so much they can do, but we can do some things to give them the pieces of the puzzle."
The co-captain said the meeting will help for years into the future because it got people together who were all concerned about public safety and property protection, and once the Rural Crime Watch system gets rolling in their area it will make a small, tight-knit population even tighter.
"I am so happy we did this," said the other co-captain. "It is so wonderful. I couldn't believe how much our neighbours care, and the support has been unbelievable. You get to keep an eye out for each other. It keeps everybody aware of what's going on around you and watching out for each other. Then at least if something does happen, if something gets stolen, you don't have to be scared to bring it up or uncomfortable talking about it to the other neighbours, everybody is on it."
The neighbours were especially pleased when the two suspects drove by as the meeting was underway, giving them a visual cue of neighbourhood solidarity. A petition to the Regional District is also being circulated.
"Crime is moving out into the rural area of Prince George; we have some of our criminal element buying homes in rural areas and trafficking drugs in the rural areas because of the lesser police presence," said Godwin. "Rural Crime Watches are springing up to get residents some professional help about how to report what is happening around where they are living."
To set up a Rural Crime Watch program in your own area, call the Community Policing Centre at 250-561-3366 or log onto their website at www.communitypolicing.princegeorge.ca.


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