A map illustrating the areas of the city with the most crime is going to be produced.
The map idea, approved by council at Tuesday meeting, emerged in the form of a recommendation from the city’s public safety advisory committee.
City staff was asked to develop a public awareness program and information for property owners in those areas deemed to have a higher crime rate.
Coun. Jason Lum asked if the committee chair, Coun. Chuck Stam, knew if those crime-ridden areas tended to move around or were they fairly static, because if they fluctuated, perhaps a website would be better than a paper map.
Coun. Stam responded that it was fairly static, but it was the type of crime which often changed with the season.
“Currently they are seeing higher theft from vehicles,” he said.
More than 80 per cent of the vehicles were not locked, according to RCMP information.
“Hopefully staff can bring back a report on how this can work,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz.
She noted the RCMP already issue a regular “crime hotspots” bulletin which pinpoints areas with higher crime rates.
Stam said later the bulletins are issued on a monthly basis, whereas the high-crime maps will cover a longer period of up to six months, and will have the highest crime areas highlighted.