Around 7 p.m. on Aug. 13, St. Albert RCMP responded to a report of three teens drinking and smashing bottles in the parking lot of the Kinsmen Clubhouse on Larose Drive.
When officers arrived, they found three 13-year-olds – two girls and one boy. One of the girls had stolen the alcohol from her parents and brought it to the clubhouse, where she and her friends began drinking and smashing the bottles.
RCMP had the youth clean up all the broken glass. No charges were laid, but the teens received warnings under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Officers worked out appropriate consequences with the teens’ parents.
“Working together with parents to help youth learn appropriate boundaries and expectations is a large part of police work,” says Cpl. Laurel Kading with St. Albert RCMP.
“The RCMP strongly believe that youth usually make good choices, but when their decision-making skills weaken, we all have a part in guiding youth back to being good citizens.”
Theft of cosmetics such as perfumes and expensive makeup at local drugstores has RCMP concerned.
On Aug. 12, two officers from the St. Albert RCMP Crime Reduction Unit walked through the cosmetic departments of the city’s north and central Shoppers Drug Mart locations to discuss ideas with store employees on how to make their products more secure.
Crime reduction measures that stores can employ, include: keeping expensive products behind the counters and closer to where the employees are stationed, staging less expensive products closer to the store exit and entrances, as well as good customer service.
St. Albert RCMP work with the department’s crime analyst, nearby detachments and Edmonton Police Service to identify rising crime trends and develop prevention strategies.
Many large stores have their own crime prevention experts, but any stores that would like to work with the St. Albert RCMP to strengthen their crime prevention techniques can call 780-458-7700.
