COLD LAKE - Cold Lake area residents will soon have a new way to report crimes to the RCMP.
The Alberta RCMP is launching phase two of their online crime reporting pilot on June 8, and the Cold Lake detachment was selected to be a part of the program.
The crimes able to be reported online include damage/mischief to property under $5,000, theft of bicycle under $5,000, theft under $5,000, theft from vehicle under $5,000, and lost property. All reports will be followed up on by phone with an officer within five business days.
The goal of the program is to give Albertans an convenient and accessible avenue to report certain types of crimes, to help ensure all crimes are getting reported regardless of how small they may be.
In order to be reported online, incidents can't include items involving personal identity, firearms, licence plates or decals, items lost or stolen must cost less than $5,000, vandalized property has to be less than $5,000 to repair, and if there were no witnesses or suspects.
"We encourage the public to report crime online, when possible. Reporting less serious crime online helps emergency call takers and frontline members focus their time on high-priority calls," a press release from Cold Lake RCMP stated. "We take all reports of crime seriously and crime reported online will be treated the same as crime reported in any other way."
Detachments in Airdrie, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Banff, and Strathcona County were also included in phases one and two of the pilot. The program will fully launch to all Alberta RCMP jurisdictions on June 15.
To report a crime online, go to: https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/alberta .
