'Extra set of eyes': Winnipeg neighbourhood looking at ways to curb crime
Residents in a south-Winnipeg neighbourhood are ready to take matters into their own hands following a rash of car break-ins late last week.
People living in Sage Creek say they are tired of crime in the area – the most recent happening last Friday when some people woke up to smashed car windows and their garages broken into.
Some neighbours are now calling for the formation of a community patrol group, which advocates say could help curb crime.
Tracey Alderson was one of the victims of the break-ins, having her e-bike stolen, and she thinks a watch group would be a good idea.
"I think it would be needed here," said Alderson. "I just wish the police has more resources to devote to something like this, because even so, it seems they don't get prosecuted if they're caught."
Detlef Hindemith, the program administrator for Manitoba Citizens on Patrol Program, said these kinds of watch groups can provide assistance to police.
"We are an extra set of eyes and ears for law enforcement," said Hindemith.
The Manitoba Citizens on Patrol Program has residents patrolling the streets in about 40 communities across the province, including four in Winnipeg.
"You are documenting details."
Leila Castro had a similar idea when she started 204 Neighbourhood Watch in the Maples seven years ago.
"So we try to be proactive by going out, being visible, by letting people know that, 'Hey, we are facing a problem here,'" said Castro.
The group has grown to have more than 100 people involved and Castro now helps other neighbourhoods get their own patrols on the streets.
"I do believe that if we help each other in the city, if we’re going to have the same thinking about keeping our neighbourhood safe, I believe we will have impact by doing that."
Alderson just hopes something will be done to prevent this in the future.
In the meantime, she has left a message on her garage door for any would-be thieves, saying, "Move along. Nothing to steal here. We gave already."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal, Conservative MPs to speak at Oct. 7 march to Parliament Hill
A Liberal MP and a Conservative MP will be part of a team delivering speeches at an event in Ottawa commemorating the one year anniversary of the attacks on Oct. 7.
Auto thefts down from 2023, but remain high, new data shows
New data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) shows that even though claims for auto theft dropped in the first half of 2024 compared to their 2023 peak, the rates of reported theft remain well above those of years prior.
Officer arrested after allegedly stealing alcohol from store: TPS
A Toronto police officer has been arrested after allegedly stealing three bottles of alcohol from a store.
Three injured, including child, in rural south Ottawa crash
Three people were taken to hospital after a crash between a pickup truck and a car in a rural part of Ottawa's south end on Saturday afternoon.
Son charged with mother's murder on Vancouver Island
Police on Vancouver Island have made an arrest in the case of a 78-year-old woman found dead in her home almost two years ago.
A strike on a mosque kills 19 as Israel bombards northern Gaza and southern Beirut
An Israeli strike on a mosque in the Gaza Strip early Sunday killed at least 19 people, Palestinian officials said, as Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Beirut in a widening war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region.
Looking for cheap flights for the holidays? Here are some tips to remember
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
Car flies into B.C. backyard, lands upside down
A driver suffered only minor injuries after going airborne in a residential neighbourhood in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, the car eventually landing on its roof in someone’s backyard.
'Sober curious': Younger Canadians turning away from alcohol, data says
According to a survey on recent alcohol consumption, younger Canadians are more likely to have not had a drink in the past week. For those interested in slowing or stopping their alcohol consumption, there's a phrase: 'sober curious.'