EDMONTON — Edmonton police are focusing more energy on Alberta Avenue as property crimes have climbed significantly.
Edmonton police have deployed more officers this week to patrol areas that have had the highest level of crime along Alberta Avenue.
There have been 23 break and enters, 28 thefts from vehicles, and 20 thefts of vehicles in the area during the first few weeks of 2015. That is double number of property crimes the neighbourhood experienced at the same time in 2014 when there were eight break and enters, 15 thefts from vehicles, and 11 thefts of vehicles.
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Police believe warm weather is a factor in the increase in property crime because more people are outside, including thieves.
“We can’t make it colder to keep the thieves indoors, but we can increase police enforcement in the area and engage the community in crime prevention strategies to bring these numbers down,” Acting Staff Sgt. Curtis Hoople.
Officers are looking for known offenders, executing criminal warrants, and checking that court-imposed releases or curfew conditions are being met. A number of social agencies are also out to connect with vulnerable persons.
Alberta Avenue runs between 97 Street and 89 Street and 111 Avenue and 122 Avenue.
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Despite the increase in property crimes, the number of violent crimes in the area has not increased.
In 2005, the Alberta Avenue Revitalization Initiative was launched as a way to re-energize 118 Avenue from NAIT to Northlands. The initiative has included public consultation with residents and business owners, investment from the City of Edmonton in streetscape improvements and the Storefront Facade Grant Program giving businesses facelifts.
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