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
Community Policing Offices |
Community Policing Offices (CPOs) are part of the RCMP Community Policing initiative in the Central Okanagan, in partnership with the Regional District of Central Okanagan. CPOs are staffed by community volunteers and help build connections between community and police. CPO volunteers respond to routine enquiries from the general public, advise the public on crime prevention programs and maintain a number of ongoing programs such as: Citizens Patrol, Speed Watch, the RCMP Courier Program and more. Contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator for additional information or get involved as a volunteer. Community Policing Office Objectives
ContactThe Regional District of Central Okanagan supports 3 Community Policing Offices within the region. West Kelowna
Peachland
Lake Country
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Citizens Patrol |
The Central Okanagan Citizens Patrol is a program run by Community Policing volunteers who offer their time and expertise to be the eyes and ears of their police service. What is the Role of a Citizens Patrol Team?Personnel who participate in the Citizens Patrol are observers and reporters only. If an offense 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:
Contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator for additional information or get involved as a volunteer. |
Speed Watch |
Every year, crashes involving speed kill or injure more people than those involving alcohol. The Speed Watch Program is run by Community Policing volunteers, who monitor 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 helps address specific traffic problems through:
Contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator for additional information or get involved as a volunteer. |
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:
Learn more about Block Watch: |
Business Watch |
The RDCO has partnered with The Greater Westside Board of Trade, City of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and RCMP to provide Business Watch, a free program for business owners in the West Kelowna area. 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. |
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. Register your Bike with 529Garage Watch this short video to see how easy it is to register and protect your bicycle with 529 Garage. See bicycle theft prevention tips under resources below. |
Become a Volunteer
Volunteers are needed for Community Policing Offices in West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country.
- Citizens Patrol
- Community Policing Office
- Speed Watch
Volunteers must:
- Be at least 19 year of age
- Be a resident of the area
- Have no criminal record
- Complete an RCMP Security Screening
- Commit to 4 hours per month
- Have good writing and speaking skills
- Work well with others in a structured environment
Pick up an application form at any of the RCMP detachments or print and use this Community Policing Volunteer Form. The completed application form along with a clear photocopy of your driver's license may be dropped off at any RCMP detachment. For more information, please contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator at 250-707-8021.
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 thieves. 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 and Identity Theft Protection |
Our Crime Prevention Coordinator is available to provide advice or presentations to interested parties. Simply contact them for more information. |
Graffiti Removal and Prevention |
Our Crime Prevention Coordinator can supply residents with materials to remove graffiti.
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. 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. 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. Think of the 3R's - 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. How Can You Prevent Graffiti?There are several steps you can take to help prevent graffiti:
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. Contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator for materials to remove graffiti. |
Child ID |
Child ID fingerprinting kits are a free resource offered through the community policing offices. 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. |
Residential Home Security |
Our Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator can assist in educating people about home security. For more information, please contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator by calling 250-707-8021 or email them at crime.prevention@rdco.com. 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 at crime.prevention@rdco.com. |
Additional links |
There are a variety of Crime Prevention organizations to check out: |
Contact us
For more information, please contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator by calling 250-707-8021 or emailing crime.prevention@rdco.com.
Contact us
Crime Prevention
Phone 250-469-6347
Fax 250-763-0606
Send email to Crime Prevention