RCMP

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Drayton Valley is proudly served by a 19 member Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police comprised of 9 municipal general duty members, 7 rural general duty members and 3 general investigation section (GIS) members.  A Community/School Resource Officer has also been added as of May 2016.

Online Crime Reporting is available in Alberta. The purpose of this tool is to make reporting crimes more convenient for members of the public.  You can use this tool to report a variety of incidents, such as vandalism, thefts under $5000, and lost property where there are no suspects identified.  Never use this tool to report a crime in progress.  Visit https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/alberta or Google “Online Crime Reporting Alberta”.

HOURS
Normal detachment business hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm.
General public fingerprinting (Visa, etc) are on Wednesdays 9:00am to 4:00pm only.
The detachment is closed for public inquiries on all weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and statutory holidays.

CONTACT
For matters requiring URGENT police response dial 911.   If not an emergency and to report an incident please dial our 24 hour complaint line (780) 542-4456.

To reach administration please call (780) 542-4457 during business hours.  This line is not monitored 24/7 and any messages left will be responded to by the following business day.

If you wish to learn more about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, please visit: www.rcmp.gc.ca

Crime over the holidays

While the holidays are a season of celebration and cheer, they can also be a time of elevated crime. Below are some tips you can follow this holiday season to help prevent theft of your property:

If you plan to be away over the holidays, have someone check in on your property on a regular basis. Having your lights on timers can help indicate to criminals that someone may be home. In addition, having a neighbour or friend clear your walkways and parked vehicles of snow also indicates someone is present. Your home insurance policy may stipulate how often someone is required to check on your property, so be aware you are following this correctly!

If you are expecting a delivery to your home, try to arrange to be home to accept it, or have someone check frequently for your package so that it doesn’t go missing. Valuables left on doorsteps are easy targets for thieves.

Always remove valuables and gifts from your vehicle and ensure doors and windows are secured.

Keep holidays plans off social media. Criminals or associates of criminals regularly surf social media for plans of people leaving town. Share your memories when you return from your holiday.

Take cardboard and gift wrap directly to the Recycling Centre rather than leaving it out for curbside collection. Criminals may take note of packaging for big ticket items such as TVs or video games left outside, indicating what kind of valuables are present inside your home.

With the increase of online shopping, always be mindful of your safety on the internet. Always use the official online store address, not related links or search engines. Monitor your payment services for any unusual activity.

Door-to-door canvassers for charity are a possibility during the Christmas season, however don’t be afraid to ask for official identification or offer to donate at a later date. If a canvasser is being aggressive or persistent, call your local RCMP for assistance.

If sending gifts through the mail, let the person receiving the package know to expect something, or send it as registered mail which will require a signature on the other end. Never send cash through the mail.

With the holiday season upon us, we would like to remind everyone to drive carefully! Always check road conditions, slow down, and allow yourself extra travel time to navigate winter roads.

If you are attending a holiday party, always use a designated driver or taxi service. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. Checkstop season will be in full swing this holiday season.

Crime in the Community

Traditionally, the fall and winter months are when Police see a spike in vehicle thefts – primarily related to people starting their vehicles to warm them up before leaving.  Unfortunately criminals often use this opportunity to their advantage and capitalize on unlocked doors.

The following are some tips to prevent your vehicles from being stolen:

Utilize where you can, and if equipped, your vehicle’s remote start system.  This will allow your vehicle to start without fear of it being stolen, as it will shut off with any attempt to drive away. Consider installing a remote start system if you do not currently have one.

If you have to start your vehicle with the keys to keep it running, it’s recommended to stay inside the cab with your doors locked to prevent them being opened unexpectedly.  If you have a garage, consider parking it inside to prevent frost on your windows, however never start a car and warm it inside the garage – pull it out to warm it up!

A frequent cause of vehicle thefts is when drivers go inside a business “just for a few seconds” and leave the vehicle running, only to come out and find their vehicle gone.  Always shut off and lock your vehicle if leaving it alone.  Thieves will use these opportunities to steal vehicles.

Some car makers have systems available, with a valid subscription, to locate vehicles if they are stolen.  There are also several aftermarket suppliers that can GPS your vehicle as well.

Security means some inconvenience, but its better to be a little inconvenienced than to lose your vehicle to a moment of lapsed vigilance.

Theft of Valuables

In addition to car theft, theft of valuables from homes and businesses is also on the rise. In order to help police locate, and offer your valuables back to you upon seizure, please write down and store the serial numbers for all electronics. If you are able to identify the serial number of your phone, tablet, computer, etc. it will help the police get your stolen goods back to you more quickly!

While this is not an exhaustive list of tips, these will help residents keep their vehicles and belongings safe and secure!

Community Consultative Discussions

On June 11, 2018 and July 25, 2018, Community Consultative Group Discussions were held with Town Council, members of the public and a member from the RCMP.  This “Crime in the Community” discussion was centered around receiving feedback from community groups and stakeholders to identify common themes and concerns regarding crime in Drayton Valley.

The results of the June 11, 2018 session can be found here
The results of the July 25, 2018 session can be found here

For tips on how to protect your property from theft, review our Public Safety Brochure

The Drayton Valley RCMP detachment averages around 6,000 calls for service each year, ranging from criminal code investigations to community bylaw matters.