If you grew up in the area, locking the front door was probably a rarity for you, never mind going to Home Alone-esque lengths to make your home appear bustling. But if the theft ring circus that’s come to town this summer teaches anything, it’s that we’re not immune to crime we perhaps once imagined was reserved for heist films and big cities.
Even more alarming than the rash of thefts is a case that is proceeding through Edmonton courts pertaining to a man who lived just north of Athabasca for years. Armand Lacoursiere is charged with a dizzying number of sexual-related offences. He has now signed an agreed statement of facts, many of them stomach-churning.
Lacoursiere’s case should be a reminder to us all of the other sorts of crime to which we are not immune. For parents, familiarity with the process by which sexual predators close in on their victims is of paramount importance. Remember the majority of victims are “groomed” by the predator before being assaulted. Predators often erode boundaries and, in many cases, build relationships with other family members to avert suspicion.
It may not be pleasant, and it may poke some holes in the idyllic perception we have of where we live, but this month, educate yourself on how to protect your possessions and, above all, your family.
