Theft woes fuel Gasoline Alley business watch group

Some business owners along Gasoline Alley, on Highway 2 south of Red Deer, Alta., are hoping a new business watch group will cut down on property crime along the busy commercial strip.

Brenda Neufeld, whose family has been in business in the Red Deer area for decades, says some of her commercial neighbours, which include stores, restaurants, shops and motels, have been taking serious hits in recent years because of theft.

"There have been some who have been hit on a continual basis," she said. 

Crimes have included vehicle break-ins and thefts as well as shoplifting, she said.

"To have repeat offences, it's not something businesses can afford based on the current economy."

Neufeld, who runs a powersports dealership called Turple Bros. Ltd., says it feels like the property crime problem has been growing in recent years.

As a result, she invested in new security measures including cameras, alarms, gates and fences. She says it's helped, and it's the kind of information she wants to share with her neighbours.

'Back-to-basics crime prevention'

Working with a local rural crime watch group, Neufeld went door knocking along Gasoline Alley last fall to gauge support for a business watch program in the area.

She says they now have 15 businesses participating in what she calls a business watch pilot project. Nearby business operators who barely knew each other are now starting to talk and share ideas.

Red Deer/Lacombe Rural Community Crime Watch board member Floyd Mullaney helped create the business watch plan after hearing property crime concerns from local businesses.

The former Mountie argues the community isn't going to arrest its way out of the problem and believes police resources can sometimes be stretched.

"It's all about the business community and the community, the people living here, taking responsibility," he said.

Mullaney said the first step is to get business operators talking, sharing advice and keeping an eye out for each other, calling it a back-to-basics crime prevention plan.

"If the business owners have the knowledge, they become more aware. They report incidents to the police more frequently, and that's exactly what we're trying to do."

Working with local police

He said the group plans to work closely with police to share information and organize opportunities to educate business operators on crime prevention and security strategies.

Gasoline Alley is policed primarily by the RCMP detachment in Blackfalds, although Red Deer police will respond to calls in the area as well. The RCMP said it welcomes the business watch strategy.

As for local perceptions about property crime rate increases, the RCMP said the numbers of residents, businesses and customers in the area have been growing in recent years, adding these kinds of increases often lead to more calls for police.

Red Deer County Coun. Jean Bota also supports the plan and said she's been hearing about crime concerns in the area since she was first elected.

"So the goal is let's start talking to each other and sharing information," she said. "I personally would like to see this throughout the business sectors throughout this province, because we're not the only business industrial park having issues."

For now, the new business watch group in Gasoline Alley is hoping to attract more members along those local service roads.

Neufeld said getting neighbours talking to one another is a positive first step.

"It's trying to stay ahead of it," she said. "Even if it's mental support, it's a good thing."

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