Stray cattle and stolen vehicles were two of the largest concerns Barrhead RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds shared with County of Barrhead councillors during his quarterly report, on Tuesday, July 5.
“Property damage collision numbers are up a bit from what we would like to see,” Dodds told council, adding the number of injuries related to collisions is currently 12 — a number he largely attributes to animal collisions and people backing out from parking spaces downtown.
“We have seen an increase lately in collisions with cattle however and there are two individuals who we are keeping an eye on primarily for stray cows,” he said. “We’ve laid a number of charges under the Stray Animals Act and while the first offence carries a modest $58 fine, after two or three such offenses we are sending them directly to court.”
Dodds said infractions under the Stray Animal Act, such as with cattle, carry high civil liabilities and individuals can expect an increase to their insurance because of them.
“One gentleman in particular, out on Highway 654 east, has had three or four collisions with his animals already. We’re trying to keep an eye on his animals and fencing,” he added.
Vehicle thefts in rural areas an on-going problem
As of July 5, Dodds said, the number of stolen vehicles in Barrhead including the county’s rural areas, is 46 and amounts to two or three thefts per week.
“Some weeks we will see three or four and the vast majority of these are unlocked vehicles with the keys in them, especially in the county,” he said.
Coming from a farming background himself, Dodds said he understood what kind of a hassle it is to have four or five different vehicles around the farm and not wanting to have a drawer filled with keys.
However, he said, the alternative is to watch them being driven out of the field by thieves.
“People are out seeding, spraying, and they leave their trucks in the approaches with the keys and that’s where they are being stolen from,” he said. “We aren’t charging anyone or even catching them and it is hard to resolve. I believe it is traveling criminals who are doing this and then dumping the stolen vehicles soon afterwards.”
Dodds said a number of people caught by Edmonton police have been in possession of stolen vehicles that have originated in Barrhead, and a number have been recovered from there and other jurisdictions.
Unfortunately however, some have been missing for months and those are probably in chop shops, he said.
“We are continuing to encourage people to call us whenever they see suspicious people or vehicles in their driveways, at their homes, or near their vehicles,” Dodds said, adding people should not wait until the day after noticing suspicious activity to contact police.
