A steep increase in break and enters and theft have been noted around Lac Santé.
St. Paul RCMP Sgt. David Graham confirmed the local detachment received several occurrences from the Lac Santé area in the last 60 days.
Those occurrences include:
- A Theft from Motor Vehicle on August 31
- A Theft of Motor Vehicle (Quad) on September 24
- A Theft from a Motor Vehicle on September 24
- A Break and Enter to a shed/garage on September 24
- A Break and Enter to a shed/garage on September 25
- A Break and Enter and a Theft of Quad reported on September 30
"There was also some calls of suspicious people in the area as well during this period," says Graham, via email with the Journal.
He noted the St. Paul detachment only covers the northern half of Lac Santé, and the Two Hills RCMP detachment covers the bottom half.
"Over the past two months, police have received approximately 16 calls at Lac Santé. Of these, eight were for break and enters, while one was for a theft, and three were for damage to property," reads a media release received from the Two Hills detachment, received from Sgt. Robert Daisley. "The calls tend to come in clumps as the perpetrators hit multiple properties at once, then stay away for a period of time," he added."
In most cases the perpetrators were not caught, reads the release. But, three males were arrested in possession of off-road vehicles stolen from the area.
Community Awareness
Kellee Dawson has a cottage at Lac Santé and a few years ago helped establish the Lac Santé Community Awareness Group. The group has a page on social media that includes a variety of posts. Lately, those posts have often been crime related.
The group began as a "grassroots" movement in 2016 when a spike in property crime was noted, explains Dawson. The group aims to make people in the community aware of what is happening.
She says residents have noted "an increase in crime in the whole Lac Santé area," adding, it seems to be hitting all the subdivisions around the lake. Thieves appear to be targeting sheds, garages, and ATVs. Dawson has heard of incidents where stolen ATVs were later used to break in to other properties by hooking the vehicles up to shed and garage doors to gain access.
And while some of the residents around the lake are seasonal residents, there are plenty of residents who live year-round at Lac Santé. Dawson says she spends just as much time at her cabin as she does elsewhere, and refers to it as home.
"People are becoming extremely concerned, and they're agitated," says Dawson. "People are getting frustrated."
Dawson says the group has been encouraging residents to attend the Oct. 29 rural crime meeting taking place in St. Paul with Minister Doug Schweitzer. She is hoping residents from the Lac Santé area will go and have their voice heard and share what they're feeling.
She notes it isn't fair that people often have to sleep with one eye open, and are unsettled in their own homes.
But, residents are working to improve the situation. On Sunday night, County of St. Paul Coun. Maxine Fodness went on a tour of the lakeshore with some of the residents, says Dawson. The group was looking at lighting.
"There are some areas with minimal lighting," says Dawson.
The issue of lighting at Lac Santé was brought up by Fodness at the October County of St. Paul meeting. The issue was deferred while work continues to take place on a streetlight policy.
Tips
Two Hills RCMP reminds property owners that there are several things they can do to make it more difficult for thieves.
"Lock up your property, store items out of sight, take valuables home, and install lighting that makes your property less appealing to thieves," reads the Two Hills release.
Also, "It is helpful if people report crimes to us, even if you think that there is nothing that can be done. Knowing that things are occurring in an area helps us to direct our resources to where they are needed."
The Two Hills Detachment can be contacted at 780-657-2820. To report a crime in progress, call 911.
The St. Paul Detachment can be contacted at 780-645-8870.
