WESTLOCK - Westlock RCMP continue to investigate a rash of break-and-enters in the Village of Clyde that included the Canada Post office, seniors drop-in centre and a number of other buildings within the last week-and-a-half.
Staff Sgt. Al Baird confirmed both the post office and drop-in centre were broken into over the weekend of Feb. 22-23, and five other properties in and around the village were also targeted within a week of each other.
“We have ebbs and flows like that … We work to see if they’re related, we don’t assume they’re related, we work to see what the evidence brings us to see if they’re linked together or not,” said Baird.
Mail service was only barely delayed by a day, but RCMP, along with Canada Post security personnel were both involved with the investigation.
“We work with Canada Post security on that,” said Baird. “We’ll look at the more criminal aspect of it and from their end they’ll look at security procedures.”
As far as a motive for breaking into buildings like this, Baird wouldn’t speculate, but parcels and petty cash may have been a target, or anything that could be pawned, like the TV that was stolen from the drop-in centre.
Baird urges residents and businesses throughout Clyde, Westlock County and the town to think about preventative measures, like video surveillance, to deter would-be criminals away from their properties. He also recommends keeping all valuables out of sight whether it be in your home, vehicle or business.
“When we start having these things it really piques our interest as well and we have to ask ‘What’s going on?’ and ‘What are they taking?’” said Baird.
Clyde mayor Christa Clausing called the crime rate in the village “unreal.”
“We’re 10-15 minutes away from Westlock and the RCMP,” she said. “It’s frustrating because it’s getting worse and worse and worse and worse. It’s unfortunate because if the police are in the area they can get here, but if something happens in the middle of the night, it can take a while.”
Clausing said council is exploring ways of getting a larger law enforcement presence in and around the community, whether it be a part-time peace officer split with one or more municipalities, or some other arrangement.
It is a topic of conversation during intermunicipal collaboration framework discussions with Westlock County and the village is also considering looking to Morinville or Thorhild if necessary. “We’re still working on costs, so we don’t really know what that will look like for Clyde,” said Clausing.
