Tips on When to Call Police

Do not hesitate to call, and don’t assume that someone else has called the police.

Intelligence enables RCMP activities to be guided by reliable, critical and timely information. Police rely on the community to be their eyes and ears. Call them to report any suspicious activity, or give anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).

Call 911 for emergencies:

• Crime in progress such as a break-in, vandalism, theft from auto
• Person is in danger or in harms way
• Unusual noises - screams, breaking glass

Call 780-458-7700 for non-emergencies:

• Slow moving vehicles cruising the block - possibly casing a home
• Vehicle being loaded with valuables -possible burglary or theft in progress
• Persons looking in parked cars
• Persons going door to door, particularly back doors
• Persons going door to door asking to use the phone/looking for an address
• Occupied vehicle parked for an extended period of time
• Vehicle circling an area repeatedly
• Any signs of suspicious activity such as the sound of a car door closing late at night with no other associated sounds, (car engine turning on/off, house door opening and closing)

Remember, everyone is affected by crime, even if they have not been direct victims. Crime results in:

• Fear of walking alone at night
• Worry about children walking alone to school, or to a friend’s home
• Lack of bus shelters (because repairs to vandalized shelters uses up most of the bus shelter budget)
• Need for an alarm system in your home
• Higher taxes to pay for policing, the judicial process, incarceration, and repairs to damaged property

So, what can you do help fight crime? When you notice something suspicious, call the police at 780-458-7700. Don’t assume someone else has called or that it is not important, just report it and let the RCMP decide if it merits further investigation. Also, don’t assume that the police won’t act on your information – all complaints are logged and help police to identify districts in need of special attention.

Did you know that many incidents of theft and vandalism are committed by a small number of criminals who may strike several victims each day? Apprehension of just one or two of these offenders can substantially reduce property crime.

This page was updated on June 5, 2008.