Success Stories

Millwoods Community Patrol receives Alberta Crime Prevention Award

22 May 2013 20:10:00 UT

On Friday, May 10, 2013, the Millwoods Community Patrol was awarded a Police Community Collaboration award at the 22nd annual Alberta Crime Prevention Awards.

This year's awards ceremony, put on by Alberta Justice & Solicitor General, was held at Government House and was co-hosted by the RCMP “K” Division.

The Alberta Crime Prevention Awards recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations promoting community safety through crime prevention and include the categories of individual, community organization, police member and police-community collaboration.

Serving as an integral role in community policing in southeast Edmonton, Millwoods Community Patrol, along with others, was awarded the 2013 Crime Prevention Award in the Police Community Collaboration category. For the past few years, the patrol has been instrumental in helping with crime prevention and reporting, assisting in the removal of impaired drivers from the road, identifying erratic or speeding drivers, identifying vandalism and assisting with the apprehension of persons of interest.

Thanks to the many partnerships and collaborations that the Mill Woods Community Patrol has established, a safer community has resulted, one which southeast Edmontonians can be proud to live in and call home.

Cyberbullying: stop it before it starts

17 May 2013 17:55:00 UT

Cyber bullying uses communication technology to hurt, threaten, intimidate, or embarrass others. It includes photos, video and text.

Some examples include posting a threat or rumour against someone on Facebook, putting up an embarrassing video of someone on YouTube, texting lies about someone, or mistreating anyone online.

“It’s easier to be mean when you can be anonymous,” says Sgt. Daryl Mahoney. “Treat others online the way you would treat them in person and want to be treated yourself.”

Cyber bullying follows people everywhere - once a message, photo, or video is online, it’s out there forever.

Stop it before it starts.

Here are some tips to combat cyber bullying:

Recognize it for what it is: a cowardly, hateful crime.
Refuse to participate. Don’t forward, ‘like’, or even discuss messages, photos, or videos that hurt or embarrass others.
Be a friend, not a bystander. Reluctance to stand up for yourself or others empowers bullies. If it’s not how you’d like to be treated, and it is safe, tell them to stop.
Report it to a trusted adult.
Raise awareness of the issue by talking about cyber bullying, and share information on how to expose it.

If you are the one being cyber bullied, do not tolerate it.

Do not respond unless you feel completely comfortable and safe.
Save the message or take a screen shot. Keep a record of any occurrences.
Block the bully on your social media channels. And report it as abusive to the social network site.
Report it to a teacher, parent, police, or someone you trust. Call the Kids Help Phone to speak with someone (1-800-668-6868) or the Alberta Government Bully Hotline (1-888-456-2323).

“Words and actions have consequences,” concludes Mahoney. “We all need to play our part to stop cyberbullying.”

For more tips visit edmontonpolice.ca/crimeprevention.

Break and enter deterrence: purchasing an alarm system

16 May 2013 20:40:00 UT

No neighbourhood or business is immune from break and enters.

The greatest deterrents are a combination of proper locks and door systems, good lighting, environmental design, and quality, well monitored security alarm systems.

If you decide to purchase an alarm system, check with the Better Business Bureau for a reliability report on the alarm company, their sales personnel and installers.

“Due diligence is your responsibility. Do your research on something as important as what system and people will protect your home and loved ones,” says Sgt. Daryl Mahoney of the Edmonton Police Service Crime Prevention Unit.

View these tip sheets for more information:

In Edmonton, all intrusion alarm systems require an Edmonton Police Service alarm permit. Download the application and print off a copy.

Police dogs donate blood (Video)

15 May 2013 20:23:00 UT

Police Service Dogs from the EPS Canine Unit donate blood at the Canadian Animal Blood Bank at NAIT.

Theft from vehicles, including licence plate theft, is on the rise in communities across Edmonton

15 May 2013 18:38:00 UT

“These are preventable crimes and people need to protect themselves,” says Sgt. Daryl Mahoney, EPS Crime Prevention Unit.

“We want the community to be aware of the simple steps they can take to reduce these crimes of opportunity, like locking up their vehicles, removing valuables, using steering wheel ‘clubs’, and installing anti-theft licence plate screws.”

To help bring awareness to the problem, and educate the public, the Edmonton Police Service is hosting a vehicle safety session for the public. The Callingwood NET will launch a new campaign directed at stolen licence plates.

What: Vehicle safety session
When: Wednesday, May 15 from 2-5 p.m.
Where: The Marketplace at Callingwood (69 Ave and 178 Street)

Members of the EPS and Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) will be on hand to talk crime prevention, hand out steering wheel locking devices, and install anti-theft licence plate screws.

“Anti-theft licence plate screws are one of the easiest ways to prevent your licence plate from being stolen,” says Const. Jerrid Maze, with the Southwest Division N.E.T. “We’ll be installing them on vehicles on May 15, or you can visit your local police station to pick some up for free.”

This event is part of the Edmonton Police Service’s Crime Prevention Week and aims to educate the public.

N.E.T. is a partnership with: City of Edmonton Community Services, Edmonton Police Service, The Family Centre, and United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.

EPS now patrolling with Segways! (Video)

14 May 2013 20:02:00 UT

The public will begin to notice the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) patrolling the downtown core on Segway Police Patrollers. The EPS has purchased six of the patrollers as an additional resource for operational and community policing initiatives.

Police Information Check Section – change in hours

13 May 2013 15:24:00 UT

The Police Information Check Section (PICS) is changing their hours in order to focus on processing applications for more timely service. The new hours will come into effect on Tuesday, May 21.

New hours of operation:

Monday through Thursday from 8am – 6pm.
Friday from 8am – 12 noon.

Monday’s hours have been extended from 4pm to 6pm, and Friday’s hours have been shortened from 4pm to noon.

Fingerprinting hours will also change:

Monday through Thursday from 8am – 5pm.
Friday from 8am – 12noon.

The hours have been extended for two hours Monday through Thursday and shortened by three hours on Fridays.

Police Information Check forms are also available at all Edmonton Police Service divisional and community stations.

You must attend the Police Information Check Section (#108, 14315 – 118 Ave.) to pick up your completed check, if you require fingerprinting services for non-criminal identification requirements, or have a criminal record.

What do I need to bring?

Two pieces of current, original copy government issued identification showing full name and date of birth. One piece must be a photo identification.
Payment

Fees

Police Information Check - $48.00
Fingerprints (full set) - $25.00
Security Guard License - $55.00
Locksmith License - $55.00
Private Investigator License - $55.00
Volunteer (with a registered organization ONLY) - $15.00
Dayhome/Adoption/Daycare/Foster Care/Home stay
- (1 applicant) $48.00
- (2-4 applicants maximum) $75.00

For more information on the police information check service, please visit edmontonpolice.ca/pics.

Summerlea station temporarily closing

11 Apr 2013 15:01:00 UT

From April 15 to April 22, 2013, Summerlea station, located in West Edmonton Mall, will be temporarily closed.

When the new Summerlea station opens in late April the public can expect a host of new features and a more welcoming environment. The most noticeable feature for the public will be a new area for writing statements and meeting with officers which offers more privacy in a newly partitioned and segregated area.

The new station will also provide larger areas for members to work, hold meetings, and conduct interviews as well as more space for processing exhibits and more room for the storage for police bikes. The new station will be located beside mall entrance 32.

“The environment itself is much nicer, there will nicer lighting, warmer colours on the wall. It’s a more modern, contemporary look that is more inviting,” explains Sgt. Stan Mah. “While it’s never an ideal situation to have to report a crime, at least the new station will be an environment that feels more inviting and less imposing.”

Sgt. Mah’s favourite feature at the new station is a backlit glass wall which features a prominent EPS emblem. “I think it’ll be very nice. I’m proud to work with EPS and I think the emblem on the wall will be a great reminder of that pride.”

During the brief closure period, the public is asked to attend EPS West Division station for any complaints or inquiries:

West Division Station
16505-100 Avenue
Edmonton, AB

Hours of operation:
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

If police is required to respond to a specific location, the public is asked to call the main EPS dispatch line at 780-423-4567 or 911 in an emergency.

There is no such thing as easy money

26 Mar 2013 18:18:00 UT

Detective James MacDonald, EPS Economic Crimes Section, is an expert in investigating investment fraud cases.

Affinity fraud occurs when a fraudster pretends to be part of a group (social groups, religious groups, ethnic communities, etc.) Many times friends and family members are brought into the scheme as they too may be part of the group.

The fraudster convinces the leaders, or a select few of the group, that an investment scheme is legitimate. The most common type of affinity fraud is a Ponzi scheme, or pyramid scheme.

How do Ponzi schemes work?

A fraudster will talk about a legitimate investment which pays significant interest payments. Once the fraudster has some investors, the interest payments they receive are actually their own money being given back to them. The victims then spread the word about the legitimacy and success of their investment to others. This brings in more investors who continue to spread the news about their investment successes.

The fraudster never invests the money and almost always uses the remaining balance for their personal use, lifestyle and vices. The problem with the scheme is that it requires a never-ending supply of new investors. Once new investors dwindle and inevitably stop so too does the flow of money to pay the interest payments. This is when the victims realize that their investment was not legitimate and that their investment principle is gone.

People can lose a lot of money, even their life savings

People can, and do, invest substantial amounts of money into these schemes. If a scheme is beginning to slow down the fraudster often offers higher rates of return for existing clients who invest even more money.

The fraudster will tell the victim to draw from their RRSP’s, HELOC’s, credit cards, and remortgage their homes. In the end the victim is on the hook for all of their borrowed money.

The words ‘easy money,’ are a bad sign

Easy money should be a large red flag for anyone in the investment world. There are no sure things in any investments. All investors should conduct their own due diligence when it comes to investing (Google, ASC, Civil court, etc). Legitimate investments require many signatures on multiple financial documents and are almost never paid in cash.

If you’re meeting your investment representative at a coffee shop or in a parking lot and handing over several thousand dollars in cash with only a handshake or hand written receipt / promissory note for the transaction, red flags should be flying.

When the victims finally catch on, there is usually no money left. The fraudster has spent all of the money on interest payments and on their own personal lifestyle and vices.

Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim

Pay attention to the red flags: too good to be true, better rate of return than any other legitimate investments, cash payments, meeting in coffee shops, etc.
Do your own due diligence on the person before you are going to hand over a substantial amount of money to (Google, ASC, Civil court, etc).
Consult with an independent financial advisor or lawyer before you invest.
Fully understand what it is that you are investing in and how it works. If you do not fully understand don’t invest.
Never invest any money unless you are prepared to lose it.
If it sounds too good to be true then it is. No one to date has ever been able to beat the market.
TRUST is a key element to any scheme. TRUST is the most powerful tool for someone looking to separate you from your money.
If the only thing you are going on is trust you are not protecting yourself!

What to do if you're a victim of investment fraud

Gather up all of your documents provided by the fraudster, returned cheques, money orders, bank statements showing withdrawals of money. This may be your only evidence that you participated in the investment.

Report the investment to police. Some people do not report to police as the fraudster was, or still is, a member of their trusted tight knit group and they choose to work it out within the group.

It’s time to shred those old hard drives!

21 Mar 2013 18:03:00 UT

We all know that it’s important to shred confidential papers, but it’s equally important that we shred data from computers and electronic devices.

March is Fraud Prevention Month and this is your opportunity to bring old electronics to an Electronics Shredding Event:

Saturday, March 23, 2013
10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Kingsway Mall (109 Street and Kingsway Avenue)
Main West Entrance

“While there are a number of paper shredding events that take place during Fraud Prevention Month, we recognize the importance of shredding data from electronic devices,” says Constable Nadine Swist.

“We encourage people to think about the data that’s stored on old electronic devices. It’s very important to ensure that the device is swept clean of personal information before it’s donated or recycled,” noted Swist .

The Edmonton Police Service has partnered with the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) for this special shredding event.

Studies have shown that the fear of sensitive data being recovered from old equipment is one of the biggest obstacles that people have, when it comes to donating used equipment to charities.

With ERA you can be assured that your data will be secure from retrieval. All data will be securely removed from all the electronic equipment that will be brought in on Saturday. ERA will then issue certificates of certified drive wiping. So bring your Electronics down (remember: just electronics – this is not a paper-shredding event).

Click here to see an ERA shredder at work.