When we see something out of the ordinary that makes us feel a little suspicious, we often second guess ourselves. However, reports of suspicious activity often come from people who felt what they observed was minor or not important, but ultimately led to successful criminal investigations.
Consider this if you are questioning if you should report suspicious activity:
If you do nothing, what could happen if the person's plans move forward?
Could they end up in jail or hurting other people?
What if you are the only one with the information to prevent a crime?
If police find evidence that an individual is planning or preparing to commit a crime or actively supports others in doing so based on your report, it can help police take action to prevent a crime and someone being hurt.
We want to encourage you to take action and report suspicious activity to prevent crimes. In this blog, you’ll have a list of resources and ways you can make a report.
Reporting suspicious activity has a significant and positive impact on our communities. Encouraging awareness and reporting unusual behaviour allows us to build a safer environment. We can all contribute to crime prevention and ensure our communities are safe.
Quick intervention from the police is another reason to report suspicious activity. By reporting unusual activities as soon as you see them, you can provide law enforcement with the necessary information to take preventive measures and intervene before a crime occurs.
Reporting suspicious activity also deters potential criminals. When they know that community members are observant and proactive in reporting suspicious behaviour, they are less likely to commit a crime.
When looking for suspicious activity, there may be signs that someone is a victim. There may also be clues that someone has committed, is committing, or intends to commit a crime.
If you are uncertain that you have witnessed suspicious activity, here are some examples.
When reporting suspicious activity to the RCMP, offer as many details as possible. Provide a description of the people, vehicles, and activities involved. For example, you can describe any identifying features, such as clothing or physical characteristics, along with license plate numbers.
When making a report, you may be asked to provide:
There are several different platforms to report suspicious activity.
Reporting suspicious activity can have a positive impact on our communities, as it can prevent crime and deter criminals. Making these reports has also become easier, with different ways to provide valuable crime prevention information emerging. You can call RAVE, make your report online or use the Alberta Rural Crime Watch app. There are also ways to access social support help through 211. We want to remind you to be aware and to take action to keep your rural Alberta community safe.
If you notice anything suspicious and a crime is not currently in progress, it's important to remember that you can call 1-833-547-RAVE (7283). When you make the call, it will connect you directly to a central dispatch, which ensures a swift and effective response from the local RCMP detachment.
Saving the RAVE number in your phone's contacts is an effective way to prepare to make a report and to remember it.
The RCMP has made it possible to make a report online through their website. This helps simplify the process both for yourself and for the police. The website will guide you through the questions which provide the police with information about the incident. The entire report takes about 15 minutes. You will also receive an email confirmation with an incident number and a report.
The Alberta Rural Crime Watch app has made it even easier to report suspicious activity online. If you have the app already downloaded onto your device, you can access online reporting directly from the app. This feature allows you to quickly and conveniently report any concerning activity they may come across, contributing to safer rural Alberta communities for everyone.
If the issue you are reporting seems unrelated to a criminal matter, the police or dispatch can assist you in finding the right community or health resources in your area if you have other concerns.
If you need another way to access social support services, you can contact 211 for help. 211 is a helpline and online database of Alberta's community and social services. When you call 211, you will receive information and referrals to community resources to get the help you need.