The RDCO promotes safe communities and provides crime prevention programs, working closely with the RCMP, in the Central Okanagan East and West Electoral Areas, Lake Country, Peachland, West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation. The City of Kelowna has its own Crime Prevention Coordinator and we work closely with them.
Our Crime Prevention Coordinator is responsible for the administration, research, development and presentation of all crime prevention programs. They also recruit volunteers who assist in the operation of the various volunteer programs. If you're interested in volunteering, see below for details.
Programs
529 Garage |
RCMP in the Central Okanagan have partnered with the 529 Garage program to combat bike theft through improved education, prevention and enforcement. By registering your bicycle with their free program, either online or through their mobile app, you increase the possibility of recovering your bike should it be stolen. Watch this short video too see how easy it is to register and protect your bicycle with 529 Garage. See bicycle theft prevention tips under resources below. |
Business Watch |
The RDCO has partnered with Greater Westside Board of Trade, City of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and RCMP to provide Business Watch, a free program for business owners. The programs offers crime prevention advice and hands-on solutions. Community involvement is integral to assist RCMP to prevent and reduce crime. Services offered
Member benefitsSpecialized crime prevention services from our Crime Prevention Coordinator, including:
Register to participateComplete the registration form and our Crime Prevention Coordinator will contact you.
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Block Watch |
Block Watch brings police and communities together with the common goal of community safety. The inclusive, community-based program involves being alert to your surroundings, talking to neighbours, and being aware of local crime trends and prevention techniques. When neighbours know each other and become familiar with the normal activity patterns within their people can recognize suspicious activity. Block Watch program benefits:
Start a Block Watch program in your communityContact our Crime Prevention Coordinator and we will supply you with an information package to get started. The package contains clear steps to take to inform your neighbours on the program and how they can participate. Depending on circumstances, a Block Watch group usually consists of residents representing 10 to 25 homes. Our team will come to your neighbourhood to present an overview of the Block Watch program. Our presentation is approximately 2 hours and covers:
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Child ID |
Child ID is a free program offered through the community policing offices (locations outlined below). It helps parents and guardians ensure they have a record of their child's personal information, medical history, and a recent picture. The RCMP does not keep a copy of these documents. Fingerprints and all documents remain with parents and should be stored in a safe place. Contact our Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator and they will supply you with a kit. What information should you have for each child?
Why should I fingerprint my child?Fingerprints will not find a missing child. However, they do help in identification once a child has been found. How often should a child be fingerprinted?Although they don't change throughout life, it is useful to update fingerprints for children under the age of 7, because the prints become better defined as they age. A child's footprint is often taken instead of fingerprints under the age of 2 years old. Handprints are taken between the ages of 2 and 6. |
Citizens' Patrol |
The Central Okanagan Citizens' Patrol is made up of community-based groups of concerned citizens who volunteer their time, vehicles and expertise to be the eyes and ears of their police service. Each patrol team has its own executive selected from within the patrol. While this group manages the scheduling and routine operations of the patrol, the team itself works under the direction of the RCMP. Please call our Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator to get involved or for further information. What is the role of a citizens' patrol team?Personnel who participate in the Citizens' Patrol are observers and reporters only. If an offence is witnessed, patrol members are to observe and report the matter. They are not to become directly involved. It is the responsibility of the police to deal with offenders. Occasionally, Citizens' Patrol will assist with traffic control/direction at motor vehicle accident scenes. A portion of the basic 6 hours training includes traffic direction and control. Is there a patrol team in my area?We oversee teams in the following areas of the Central Okanagan:
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Community policing offices |
Community Policing Offices (CPOs) are part of the RCMP Community Policing initiative in the Central Okanagan. A CPO is a community-based, non-threatening office where residents may go to deal with personal matters or issues within the community. These offices provide assistance in reporting minor offences, dealing with police members or getting information relating to crime prevention and community policing. CPOs are staffed by community volunteers and help build connections between community and police. Office personnel respond to routine enquiries from the general public, initiate non-emergency crime reports, advise the public on crime prevention programs and maintain a number of ongoing programs such as: seniors contact, media liaison file, business contact list, etc. Contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator for additional information CPO Objectives
Become a volunteerContact our Crime Prevention Coordinator to volunteer. Volunteers must:
LocationsKelowna – RCMP
Lake Country
Peachland
Rutland
West Kelowna
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Graffiti removal and prevention |
The Graffiti Removal and Prevention program is designed to reduce incidents of graffiti vandalism and the negative impact this crime has on the community. Do not ignore graffiti. A leading factor for graffiti vandals is fame or notoriety. By removing graffiti as quickly as it appears vandals are unable to achieve recognition from their peers. If left unchallenged, graffiti can encourage other crimes. The program is based on a 3R's approach - Recognize, Report and Remove. Residents are asked to recognize that graffiti is a crime, to report graffiti to the Graffiti Hotline and to remove the vandalism immediately following its appearance. Graffiti hotlinesFor residents in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas, Lake Country, Peachland, West Kelowna, and Westbank First Nation, report graffiti by calling 250-707-8021. Residents in the City of Kelowna, should report graffiti by calling 250-469-8600. What Is Graffiti?Graffiti is the willful defacement of someone else's property by writing words or drawings with any marking substance. Graffiti can be placed on any surface including walls, fences, rocks, trees, mail and news boxes, sidewalks, roadways, windows and equipment covers. Why Should You Care?Graffiti is a crime and the incidence of this crime is increasing. It invites other types of vandalism and crime because it implies the neighbourhood doesn't care, cannot keep up with basic maintenance and gives the impression that a neighbourhood isn't safe. Areas filled with graffiti are less appealing to those who may be looking to buy or rent property. This means properties are values are reduced. Private property owners and public agencies spend thousands of dollars every year on graffiti removal. Graffiti is preventable, and cleanup costs divert money from other programs How Can You Prevent Graffiti?There are several steps you can take to help prevent graffiti.
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Seniors contact program |
Seniors from the City of West Kelowna or Peachland who qualify for this program will be contacted by phone on a regular basis to ensure they are okay. Seniors will receive daily phone calls at a predetermined time (usually between 10 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday) from our Community Policing Office. This program is available to seniors who do not have a caregiver living with them. Referrals for this program will be taken from agencies and organizations working with seniors or from individuals who are aware of seniors who live alone and could benefit from this program. If contact cannot be made (no answer) – we will try back at least three times over one hour. If there is still no answer, one of the individuals that are listed as an emergency contact on the application form will be contacted. It's a simple way to ensure seniors are safe in our community. |
Speed Watch |
Is speeding a problem in your neighbourhood? Crashes involving speed kill or injure more people than those involving alcohol. The Speed Watch Program monitors speeding in local neighbourhoods. Volunteers use portable radar equipment and an electronic sign for instant feedback, so drivers are aware of their speed. This program will help to address specific traffic problems through:
Become a volunteerContact our Crime Prevention Coordinator to volunteer. You must:
Call your local RCMP detachment if you have concerns about the traffic in your neighbourhood. |
Volunteer with us
Volunteers are needed for the following programs:
- Citizens' Patrol
- Community Policing Office
- Speed Watch
To apply you must be at least 19 years of age, a resident of BC and able to obtain and maintain an RCMP Enhanced Security Clearance. Pick up an application form at any of the RCMP detachments or community policing offices, or print and use this community policing volunteer form. The completed application form along with a clear photocopy of your driver's licence may be either dropped off at any community policing office.
Resources
9 p.m. routine |
Developing a 9 p.m. routine is a key practice for preventing crime on your property. Every night at or around 9 p.m. do a quick check around your property to ensure:
Why is this important? Property crimes are often crimes of opportunity. See RCMP home security tips for more details. |
Auto crime prevention |
Auto crime is a persistent threat in BC. You can help protect your vehicle by identifying risks and removing opportunities for theives. ICBC auto crime prevention tips:
Lock out auto crimeWhen you park your vehicle take a moment to look inside. See what tempting items are left in sight. Loose change, a shopping bag or sports equipment can make your vehicle an easy target. Closing windows and locking doors is only the first step to prevention. You may also want to consider an anti-theft device for your vehicles. |
Bicycle theft prevention |
Bicycle theft continues to be a crime of opportunity across the Central Okanagan. Very few stolen bicycles are reported by owners and recovered by police. Unfortunately, many bicycle owners don't record their bike's serial number or have a detailed description/photo to help identify their bike in the event it is stolen.
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Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) |
Research has shown that the design and effective use of the built environments can lead to a reduction in both the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime. CPTED is part of a comprehensive approach to crime prevention. CPTED can be applied to identify and remove potential problems in proposed developments. It can also be used to correct existing design problems that may invite crime. CPTED objectives
Are you having an ongoing “break and enter,” vandalism, theft or trespassing problem at your store or home? Our Crime Prevention Coordinator is available for an on-site assessment of your premises to suggest possible solutions to your problem through the principles of CPTED. |
Fraud, scams, identity theft protection |
Our Crime Prevention Coordinator is available to provide advice or presentations to interested parties. Simply contact them for more information. |
Residential home security |
Our Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator can assist in educating people about home security. Just contact us for details.
You can also check out the RCMP's page on home security tips. |
Restorative justice |
Criminal justice systems around the world today are adopting approaches that minimize the effects of crime on people and communities while helping to prevent offenders from committing more crimes. Learn about restorative justice |
Robbery prevention |
Here are some resources to help you learn about robbery prevention: |
Seniors safety |
Seniors are often victims of scams and frauds because seniors are often stereotyped as being:
Crime prevention is mostly a matter of awareness. Most crimes take advantage of opportunity. Reducing or removing the opportunity reduces the possibility of becoming a victim. Our Crime Prevention Coordinator can assist seniors from becoming victimized through educational/awareness seminars geared at:
For more information, please contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator by calling 250-707-8021 or email them. |
Additional links |
There are a variety of Crime Prevention organizations to check out: |
Contact us
Crime Prevention
Phone 250-469-6347
Fax 250-763-0606
Send email to Crime Prevention