Police patrols of commercial and industrial areas have been stepped up in Red Deer to protect temporarily closed businesses from crime, says the city’s top cop.
Supt. Gerald Grobmeier said on Wednesday that a “dedicated unit” was created to allow for a higher level of RCMP patrols in local business and industrial areas during the pandemic response.
Since many businesses have temporarily shut down and others have staff mostly working from home, there’s a need to increase police presence in these areas.
Both marked and unmarked RCMP vehicles will be cruising the streets on the lookout for criminals, Grobmeier added, during a live-streamed video update on the City of Red Deer’s Facebook page.
He notes some business owners can also look at hiring private security, and doing their own property checks. He encouraged people to look out for suspicious activities around neighbouring businesses as well as their own premises.
Business owners are also advised to ensure their alarms are working, that there’s good lighting inside and outside their buildings, and that windows and doors are not obscured with posters that obstructed sight lines to the interior.
As of Wednesday, the downtown RCMP detachment’s front counter is closed. All non-essential police services, such as fingerprinting and criminal record checks, are cancelled for now.
All reports of vehicle collisions, and information related to investigations, as well as reports of crimes and suspicious activity, can be made through email or telephone (403-343-5575, or Kreddeer@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.) Non-emergency reports are accepted between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week.
For emergencies, call 9-1-1 — but warn the dispatcher if you are experiencing cold or flu like symptoms.
“The safety and security of the public has always, and will continue to be, the top priority for Red Deer RCMP, which is why we are increasing our online and telephone customer service options,” Grobmeier has stated.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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