Crime can be a major concern in rural areas, where police response times are often longer than in urban centres. Becky Wylie Jardine, a board member with Red Deer Rural Crime Watch, says knowing your neighbours can make a big difference.
“Yeah, absolutely. You know response times for RCMP are a lot longer in rural areas compared to the city. If a neighbour sees a strange vehicle on a driveway, they can call the police right away,” she said.
Rural Crime Watch Road Parties are now underway for the season and will continue throughout the summer. The goal is to strengthen community connections and encourage neighbours to look out for one another.
Party kits are available at Lacombe County, Red Deer County, and the Blackfalds RCMP detachment. They include information on how to host a Road Party, along with tips for contacting local businesses to arrange food at a reduced cost.
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