The Barrhead and Area Crime Coalition (BARCC), or more specifically its alert system, was key to apprehending an individual suspected to be involved in a string of robberies Dec. 17.
BARCC is a partnership between Woodlands County, the Town of Barrhead and the County of Barrhead, as well as the Barrhead RCMP and Rural Crime Watch.
It was formed this spring, in part due to discussions Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen had with all parties in around initiatives to combat rural crime.
As part of the initiative, BARCC has set up a software-based system that allows the municipalities, Rural Crime Watch and the RCMP broadcast messages via automated phone calls, e-mails, and texts, about items of public interest.
“I don’t know if I have words to express how well it worked [software messaging]. It was key in resolving the situation that happened yesterday [Dec. 17],” said RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds.
At about noon, the RCMP received reports about a male between the age of 25 and 30 that was in the downtown area and allegedly on the prowl looking for unlocked vehicles.
“My concern is not only trying to apprehend the suspect but of people’s safety. This guy is running around and we are trying to find him ,and there are all these vehicles that are unoccupied and running, and it is just a matter of time until he gets lucky and he steals a car, endangering members of the public,” he said.
“I wanted to get the message that they needed to shut their cars off and lock them up, as well as their homes, because he did try to get into two different homes.”
Eventually, the individual did manage to find an unlocked vehicle with the keys in it.
The RCMP, through BARCC, sent out another message with the description of the individual, as well as the stolen vehicle (a red minivan), complete with a licence plate number.
Within a few minutes, RCMP received reports from the public who spotted the vehicle, all of which Dodds said were credible and contained a lot of detail.
Eventually, the search for the individual moved to Neerlandia where BARCC users reported seeing the minivan.
Currently, the RCMP are still in the process of gathering information, but he suspects the individual will be charged with numerous counts of theft or attempted theft of a vehicle, and at least one count of robbery.
“We are still trying to piece everything together. I think today [Dec. 18] we have something like 16 interviews to do with people who either saw what was going on or had their vehicles damaged or stolen,” he said.
This is the second time the RCMP have used the BARCC software, the first time being about three weeks ago when they used it to inform drivers about an accident that was delaying traffic.
“I just can’t reiterate how much BARCC helped us resolve the situation successfully and I want to thank all those who called in with information,” Dodds said.
For more information on the BARCC callout system visit the Barrhead municipalities or Woodlands County’s website. People can also sign up for the service free of charge at the town or county municipal offices.
