Spike in neighbourhood crime across Saskatoon

Watch above: Hampton Village residents share stories of neighborhood crime

SASKATOON – Between Sept. 9 and Oct. 6, neighbourhood crime was up 24 per cent in Saskatoon compared to the same time period last year. According to the Saskatoon Police Service, it remains below the five-year average but the year-over-year rise, is concerning.

“We’re talking about things like auto theft, break and enter to homes, break and enter to businesses, theft from motor vehicles, mischief. These are crimes that don’t grab headlines necessarily but if you’re a victim, you’re very much affected,” said Alyson Edwards, with Saskatoon police.

Tina Jackson has lived in Hampton Village for six years. After an incident at her home three weeks ago, she has an unsettling feeling.

“He was right at the back door. Thankfully we have three locks so he wasn’t able to get in,” Jackson says, describing the scenario.

It was shortly after supper at the end of September when Jackson’s daughter noticed a young man trying to enter their home from the back patio door. The daughter screamed and the would-be intruder ran.

“We lock the doors all the time, have the alarm system… We’re actually getting a dog tomorrow,” Jackson said.

In September 2013, there were 12 neighbourhood/property crimes in Hampton Village. This September, there were 26.

Numbers are similar in the city’s southern most neighbourhood Stonebridge, where 21 crimes were recorded in September. Silverwood Heights, in the north end, reported 20.

President of the Hampton Village Community Association Justine McCaffrey said the community is buzzing. People have taken to social media expressing their concern and are warning one another, specifically about keeping spare keys outside.

“Underneath flower pots by the doors, underneath rocks, in mailboxes, above the door, common places that we all think are safe to hide a key you could use in an emergency… I’ve heard that they are being checked,” said McCaffrey.

McCaffrey said she’s aware of a resident on the Hampton Village Facebook page warning others about an incident where a spare key was left outside and used to gain entry while a woman was alone in her home.

The Facebook post says the woman locked herself in her bedroom and called police. Attempts by Global News to speak with the woman were unsuccessful.

Police advise residents to lock doors, lock vehicles, get to know your neighbours and asks that everyone report all incidents.

“When we receive reports we are always analyzing those numbers on a daily basis to see where we need to dedicate our resources to jump out and get on top of something before it becomes a bigger issue,” said Edwards.

McCaffrey says residents can expect a neighbourhood patrol group to form soon. Anyone interested can contact the Hampton Village Community Association.