STOUGHTON — Rural crime is becoming an issue in the R.M. of Tecumseh and surrounding areas. A meeting was held on Aug. 11 at the R.M. of Tecumseh office in Stoughton to discuss the issues at hand.
The newly elected reeve of the R.M. of Tecumseh, Christy Goudy, welcomed everyone to the evening. In attendance were Stoughton Mayor Stefan Clark, Stoughton Tecumseh Fire Chief Pat Slater, many local business owners, council members and rural and community residents.
Goudy introduced Sgt. Warren Ignatiuk with RCMP, who then took the floor.
Ignatiuk told the approximately 80 attendees that the detachments in Weyburn, Radville and Fillmore have all positions filled except one, which should be filled soon. In April, three members were on leave to start new families, but two have already returned.
He said he appreciates every member of his detachment and believes he has one of the best teams around. Ignatiuk said he came to the meeting to share ideas and see if there was a solution to the problems many rural and community residents are facing.
He offered suggestions on how to protect private property:
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If a farm no longer has a resident living on the property, owners should check it once a week. Going only once every few months makes it harder to determine when something goes missing.
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Trail cameras are a good option, but they need to be hidden well. Inviting friends to try to spot them can help test their placement. Criminals may steal or damage cameras if they are easily found.
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Many people already have security cameras. Ignatiuk recommended installing motion sensor lights near them for clearer images. Cameras linked to phone apps can also be checked remotely for suspicious activity.
Several audience members asked questions, including what to do during a crime.
“First of all, we always need to make sure that we stay safe,” said Ignatiuk. “Watch to see how many there are, what they are driving, a licence plate number and a description of the people. And always call the police.”
Honourable Daryl Harrison also spoke, telling the crowd that federal criminal law needs improvement. He said penalties must be stiffer and judges must enforce them.
He noted that most thefts are drug-related, with stolen goods often sold to fund addictions. Harrison called for communities and police to work together to get the issue under control.
One attendee raised the issue of front licence plates, which were removed more than 20 years ago. Residents said front plates would make it easier to identify suspicious vehicles. Harrison said he would look into the matter.
He added the provincial government is considering forced rehabilitation for people with addictions, though he could not provide details on how such a program would work.
Residents were reminded to know their neighbours, recognize which vehicles belong in the area and take notes or photos of unusual activity. Reporting suspicious behaviour to police, even small details, can be vital to investigations — but safety should always come first.
