Only about 30 per cent of all crime gets reported, often because witnesses are not sure whether the incident they have seen would be worthy of police attention, or they don’t know how to report it.
To try and get citizens more involved in crime prevention, the Pitt Meadows Community Policing Committee has assembled and published the Pitt Meadows Crime Reporting Guide.
The guide breaks it down for citizens. Listing incidents that require immediate attention – any crime that is in progress, or where a person is in distress, by dialing 9-1-1.
The non-emergency number 604-463-6251 is included for suspicious incidents such as strangers lurking, abandoned vehicles or an insecure home.
The booklet includes three suspect identification charts to help record descriptions of people, and three more vehicle description sheets, so police will have solid information.
There are also numerous crime prevention tips.
Clint Van Blanken, Crime Prevention volunteer coordinator, presented the booklet to Pitt Meadows council on Tuesday.
Mayor Deb Walters called the guide “a great tool,” and said council will be getting lots of positive feedback about it.