Vigilante or Citizens on Patrol?
"A Penticton business owner is one of many fed up with property crime and petty theft in the city and he's organizing a group to retrieve stolen items.
Jason Reynan patrols the streets of Penticton with two or three other people, looking for groups of street-entrenched people who are hoarding things he believes are stolen.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
"The majority, when confronted, would hand it over in a second. Most are high at the time or very frail," Reynan said. "When they see three or four guys walk up, they'll hand it over."
What started as a small Facebook group called Clean Streets Penticton has grown to more than 2,000 members. He said the group is made up of local residents and business owners fed up with property crime and petty theft, looking to take back their stolen goods when police haven't."
The RCMP has a positive crime prevention program, COP, Citizens on Patrol to which any community member may join. http://www.ccopa.ca/british-columbia
Volunteer Patrols
What is Citizens on Patrol and/or RCMP Volunteer Vehicle Patrols?
Volunteers, while working in teams, patrol neighbourhoods in marked or unmarked vehicles serving to deter crime, operating as extra ‘eyes and ears’ for the RCMP and reporting all suspicious, criminal and nuisance behaviour they observe.
Photo courtesy the RCMP
In addition to the primary activity above, volunteers might also undertake prevention activities relating to the awareness and prevention of crime and community safety issues, including but not limited to the following programs/activities:
Lock Out Auto Crime
Stolen Auto Recover
Speed Watch
Participation in Community Events
Business Link
Volunteer Foot Patrol and Bike Patrol
Volunteers, while working in teams, patrol neighbourhoods on foot or on bike serving to deter crime, operating as extra ‘eyes and ears’ for the RCMP and reporting all suspicious, criminal and nuisance behaviour they observe. The volunteers will also be encouraged to engage members of the community of issues related to crime prevention and community safety.
Additional Activities may include:
Lock Out Auto Crime
Stolen Auto Recover
Speed Watch
Participation in Community Events
Business Link
Interested in Volunteering?
You must:
Be 19 years or older at the time of application, volunteers 16 years of age or older may be accepted with parent/guardian approval.
Valid BC Driver’s License (required only if interested in programs that require the use of a vehicle)
Have and maintain a clean driving record for the past 5 years (required only if interested in programs that require the use of a vehicle)
Consent to a Police Records Check and background reference check.
Must not be under investigation by any police force.
Ability to write and communicate well in the English language. Attend training sessions, special events and general membership meetings scheduled throughout the year.
Police are reactionary rather than being proactive. Volunteering, creating a Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch group assists in keeping your community safe.