RCMP offers online crime reporting

By Jensen, Randy on August 15, 2020.

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -EDMONTON

The Alberta RCMP officially rolled out a new, province-wide online crime reporting initiative earlier this week.

The online crime reporting tool allows Albertans to report select property crimes online, RCMP said in a news release. This project has been initiated to ensure the public is able to report select crime types in whatever way is most convenient or accessible to them. A goal for the Alberta RCMP is to make sure all crime is reported, no matter how small. This provides the most accurate crime data and allows our resources to be deployed appropriately in the areas that need it most.

Citizens will be able to report the following crimes online:

– Damage/mischief to property under $5,000;

– Theft of bicycle under $5,000;

– Theft under $5,000;

– Theft from vehicle under $5,000; and

– Lost property.

Incidents must also satisfy the following conditions to be reported online:

– No witnesses or suspects;

– Item(s) lost or stolen must cost less than $5,000;

– Vandalized property will cost less than $5,000 to repair; and

– There are no items involving personal identity, firearms, licence plates or decals.

All crimes reported online will be followed up with a phone call from a police officer in “K” Division’s Call Back Unit (CBU) within five business days, RCMP said. The CBU was created to ensure all non-urgent calls for service are investigated efficiently and effectively.

“The Alberta RCMP is always looking for new opportunities to modernize and streamline our services for all Albertans – no matter where they live in the province,” said Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, Commanding Officer of Alberta RCMP. “Online crime reporting is accessible and convenient, and will help us capture more intelligence when it comes to property crime occurring in all of the communities we serve. Offering a contactless service is also vital in these times when physical distancing is so important.”

The initiative was piloted in Airdrie, Banff, Cold Lake, Grande Prairie, Red Deer and Strathcona County starting June 1. The link to report a crime online can be found at https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/alberta.

RCMP encourages the public to report crime online, when possible. Reporting less serious crime online helps emergency call takers and frontline members focus their time on high-priority calls. RCMP takes all reports of crime seriously and crime reported online will be treated the same as crime reported in any other way.

Comments are closed.