West Kelowna Community Policing Society

Upgrade! Our community policing volunteers have a new ride. It’s a 2022 Ford Escape - and it has AWD! That’s one thing Community Police president Gary Hedge (pictured far right) is happy about. The old van was an ‘04 and it had about 163,000 km - that’s not a lot but it was all Peachland miles!
“It’s brand spanking new & we’re very happy.”

The vehicle was paid for from reserves & a $3000 donation from Peachland Sportsman’s Association

We are in the West K News today! This is a great introduction about who we are, and our part in making West Kelowna safer for all our citizens.

An introduction to West Kelowna Community Policing - West K News West Kelowna Community Policing Society is a volunteer group that runs several programs to keep the city safe

Roy is our Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator and representative of West Kelowna Community Policing. Please reach out to Roy to find out more and get involved.

We are out on Sunview Drive this evening promoting West Kelowna Blockwatch and BC FireSmart recognized neighborhoods! Be safe trick or treating tonight!

Happy Halloween! Here are some safety tips from the BC RCMP, if you are going out trick or treating tonight.

Halloween is here but it doesn’t have to be scary. Remember these simple safety tips and plan for a safe and enjoyable evening for you and the little ones heading out to trick or treat! Happy Halloween and stay safe.

RDCO Crime Prevention & Community Safety Citizen Patrol volunteers will be out on Halloween evening in , and to help keep everyone safe! And they'll have some special reflective items from our friends with to hand out.
BC RCMP​ have some excellent safety tips for you and your family as well http://ow.ly/XY5J50GvuuX

Thank you to you all👍❤️

Let’s all try and get in the habit!!!

Here's something RDCO Crime Prevention & Community Safety supports!
Tonight, why not start the 9PM routine around your home and help prevent auto theft and vandalism. Here are additional auto crime prevention tips from BC RCMP:
http://ow.ly/sbd050DQqqS

Community Policing volunteers in the District of Lake Country, City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation and District of Peachland are still active serving their communities with everyone's health and safety top of mind.
If you're looking for a great volunteer opportunity, why not join them?
Our RDCO Crime Prevention & Community Safety program would love to hear from you.
http://ow.ly/Mw9150Dw6uc

New post on Instagram

Nice work Westside and Kelowna laying low during new years festivities. Keep up the good work and let's end this pandemic !

Some great ideas from the BC Block Watch Society on protecting your deliveries.

12 Days of Christmas Crime Prevention
PORCH PIRATES
*Definition*: a "Porch Pirate" is a thief who steals a parcel from the outside of a residence either because they are following a delivery driver, or because they stumbled upon the opportunity

Don't let this be an unreported crime…if you see a package being delivered take an extra moment to see if there is a vehicle following it that stops and goes to steal the package. Don’t attempt to intervene, just record as much information as you can and call the police.

Here are some tips to help not be a victim of this type of crime over the upcoming holiday season:

> Schedule deliveries when someone’s home to receive it
> Use tracking numbers and email and text notifications to closely monitor when packages arrive. Insure your packages against theft.
> If practical, use a postal drop for receiving packages, and locked mailboxes
> Have packages delivered to a workplace or apartment lobby where someone can sign for them. Or instruct delivery company to leave packages out of view from the street.
> Connect with neighbours to make arrangements to sign for and receive each other’s packages when the other is not home
> Adjust security-camera angles (so that they are not too high), capturing licence plate numbers, or visitors’ faces and preventing them from easily obscuring themselves with a hood or hat
> Use cameras that record at least in 1080p resolution and have nighttime function or good lighting to complement them. Also, cameras with motion notification or two-way communication can be very handy for spotting a porch pirate.

Situated just southwest of summit pass on the Alaska Highway, the beauty of Mount Saint George shines in the Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park. Seeing nature’s finest landmarks is a privileged part of policing British Columbia's northern communities.

Businesses in or areas should have one of these badge signs displayed in your door or window. Find out how you can join our free Westside Business Watch program rdco.com/businesswatch. Thanks to program partners City of West Kelowna , The Greater Westside Board of Trade, Westbank First Nation and Kelowna RCMP.

PHOTO TAKEN PRE-COVID

Just a few of our wonderful volunteers! Unfortunately with the 2nd wave we may be considering suspending our duties for a few months to keep everyone safe and promote staying home when possible.

Anything you want us to post about on our social media? Tips ? Ideas? Comment Below!

Stay safe and stay home if you can. And wear a mask!!!

A Halloween message from BlockWatch Society BC

Block Watch Halloween

Two of our amazing volunteers you might've seen out patrolling last night.

Thanks for all your support and recommendations where for us to go! Community support is greatly appreciated and goes a long way.

Stay safe!

We are out and about tonight. Let’s us know which areas we can visit!

bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Westside businesses are reminded about the free RDCO Crime Prevention & Community Safety & The Greater Westside Board of Trade Business Watch program. More than 60 businesses are already participating...Sign up and get more information at rdco.com/businesswatch
Our Crime Prevention program offers COVID-safe visits to help your business.

Hey West Kelowna! We are back on the road and out patrolling tonight! Please let us know where you want us to go! 😁

Stay safe Penticton. Residents are having strong faith in firefighters , and we can say the same. Thank you to the 100 firefighters along with the dozen that have traveled all over BC to come help Penticton.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/penticton-residents-say-they-re-confident-in-efforts-to-protect-homes-from-nearby-wildfire-1.5696223

Penticton residents say they're confident in efforts to protect homes from nearby wildfire | CBC News Residents on evacuation alert due to a wildfire burning near Penticton say they have faith in firefighters who have worked to keep their homes safe.

These con artists "help" you get money from COVID aid programs. Learn about the latest alert from the Better Business Bureau here.

COVID-19 Government Scams As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, many government agencies are providing money and other support to help with pandemic-related hardships. Scammers, always ready to take advantage of people in cri…

Identity Fraud is on the rise. Please stay safe!

Identity Fraud on the rise Identity theft and fraud Fraud alert! June 30, 2020: The CAFC is noting an increase in identity fraud reporting. Fraudsters are using personal information about Canadians to apply for governme…

Heading out with the family today to safely enjoy Canada Day with physical distancing? Our RDCO Crime Prevention & Community Safety program reminds everyone to lock your vehicle and keep any valuables locked away or take them with you.
Help Lock Out Auto Crime!
rdco.com/your-services/police-services/crime-prevention/auto-crime-prevention.aspx

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-covid-update-june-23-1.5624328

BC has kept the spread of COVID-19 down, lets continue this! Ensure to keep up with social distancing, washing your hands, etc. Dont stop now - we want to avoid another wave of the virus.

B.C. runs risk of rapid rebound in COVID-19 cases if contacts exceed 65% of normal, health officials say | CBC News The latest epidemiological modelling by B.C. health officials shows recent contact rates in the province are at 65 per cent of normal — hovering near the threshold for a potential rebound of new cases of COVID-19.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7103722/premier-phase-3-coronavirus/

B.C. premier announces move to Phase 3 of COVID-19 reopening This phase allows for non-essential travel within the province and for hotels, resorts, RV parks and other accommodations to reopen.

Reminder! Bear activity is heightened over West Kelowna now. Keep your garbage bins secured and only put them on the street on collection day. Go to WildLifeBC for more information.

Follow us on WKCPS on Instagram

Scam artists seem to be taking advantage of the current public health emergency, preying on fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center is seeing a spike in fake emails, texts and social media posts that try to trick their victims into believing the Government of Canada is trying to send them COVID-19 relief money.

The message instructs the recipient to click the attached link to claim their payment, then tricks them into sharing personal information which is then used to steal their identity and commit crimes under their name.

These scammers will use a variety of tactics, including:

Authority: Scam artists will impersonate agencies of authority such as the Canada Revenue Agency, who actually does not contact anyone via text message
Spoofing: This is where scammers will change their display name, phone number or email. For emails you can hover over the sender’s name, hit reply or look at the email’s properties to reveal the sender’s true email address
Automation: Scammers will use automated messaging to reach a large amount of people at once, and depending on the information they have already collected, they can personalize the message.

If you are the victim of a scam, first thing to do is to avoid clicking on the link. If you have lost money, valuables or have given your personal information, contact your local RCMP police detachment.

If you have been contacted but have not lost anything or given out personal information, report the incident online to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center.

Please share this with your friends, your neighbors and especially those in the community who may be particularly vulnerable,

Let’s do everything we can to protect and care for one another.

Improving Lighting around your home that will make it less of a target for crime and disorder.
Please consider adding light fixtures to illuminate parking areas, driveways and the rear of your homes.
By illuminating areas during hours of darkness will deter people gathering or give them places to hide in the shadows.
“Dusk to Dawn” bulbs have a sensor built in and give a good low level lighting around your home during the hours of darkness.
These security bulbs can be used in common “screw in” fixtures and can be left switched on and go off automatically.
Motion activated outdoor security lighting fixtures can also alert you to activity around the perimeter of your home.
Use LED bulbs as they use less energy, are long lasting and are higher quality, producing bright white light.
LED lights work well with exterior camera security systems if you have them around your home, to increase visibility.
Check all bulbs around your premises regularly to ensure they are working and are clean and free from debris.
Ensure entryways, main walkways, back alleys, parking areas and corners of buildings are well lit.
Make sure trees and shrubs are not blocking light fixtures.

Below are some safety tips to protect your bicycles:
Record:
 Record your bike’s serial number and keep it in a safe place.
 Photograph your bike and note any additions you have added to it since you bought it.
 Use a public online or mobile bicycle registration such as 529 Garage
 Engrave or mark your bike with something specific like your driver’s license number

Given that nobody wants to have their bike stolen, investing in a good standard bike lock makes a lot of sense for us bike owners out there.
Lock:
 Never leave your bike unlocked even when left at home or secured in your garage or outbuilding.
 Use high quality locks such as heavy duty U locks, or heavy duty cable or chain locks.
 Take the extra step and remove the seat or a wheel as an extra deterrent
 Whenever possible, avoid leaving your bike in an underground parking structure - they are a favourite target for bike thieves
 Avoid leaving your bike on or in your vehicle if possible – If you must leave your bikes unattended in the back of a vehicle, lock the bikes to your vehicle

Theft from motor vehicles can be prevented by locking your vehicle and removing any items from within. If you have to leave property in your vehicle please secure it in the trunk. Make sure windows and sun roofs are secured.

With social distancing and most people heeding health experts leaving home when absolutely necessary, expanding our RDCO Crime Prevention & Community Safety Block Watch program is a bit difficult. But if you and your neighbours would like to join more than 100 active Block Watches in City of West Kelowna, District of Peachland, District of Lake Country, Westbank First Nation or , , , , , , then contact RDCO Crime Prevention and we'll work with you when this is all behind us.
rdco.com/your-services/police-services/crime-prevention.aspx

Peachland mayor frustrated with vandalism of public mural - Peachland News A frustrated Mayor of Peachland took to Facebook Wednesday to appeal for clues after the district’s retaining wall at the south end of town was vandalized.

RCMP in British Columbia - Preventing Theft from and of Vehicles Preventing Theft from and of Vehicles