EdmontonPoliceService
Edmonton Police Service data shows that from January to the end of August this year more than 5,600 Edmontonians reported being scammed for a total of $37 million. Julie Matthews, a fraud prevention educator says new scams are coming out regularly and scammers are getting more clever all the time especially in using technology.
Edmonton Police Service say that they have found one of the most elaborate encampments ever, complete with a mini-power grid, solar panels, generators which powered multiple home appliances. The encampment had a chop shop for stolen bikes, wood-fired stoves, stone fireplace, stone and marble flooring laid in an organized pattern, a working mini fridge and washing machine, and live electrical wires police said were strung haphazardly. Police said they also located 15 weapons, including three guns, a crossbow, knives, swords and a machete, and about $8,000 worth of stolen goods.
On Monday, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) started issuing body-worn cameras to its officers as part of a service-wide roll out. A small group of officers started wearing them for a pilot project in July 2023, after the provincial government directed police agencies across Alberta to work toward adopting body-worn cameras. Officers will be trained and start wearing the cameras over the next "several months," the release said. EPS expects remaining "public-facing" units to get cameras in the coming year, depending on budget.
Deputy Chief Darren Derk said body-worn cameras are a helpful tool when it comes to police investigations and interactions. Wearing the cameras builds trust with the public.
Depictions of the "wild west" portray it as a time when guns were prevalent and shootings were common. Edmonton Police Service just released a report indicating that the number of firearms seized and shootings had increased substantially which is of most concern to the citizens of Edmonton.
Since October members of the South Asian business community have been the targets of extortion and Edmonton police are scheduled to report on this later this week. The extortion demands are for large sums of money and failing to pay results in arson or other property damage. Six people have being charged thus far but there are others nationally and internationally involved.
The plans of Edmonton Police Service and the City of Edmonton to clear 8 homeless camps next week has been put on hold until Monday when the the matter is brought before the court. Sam Mason, president of the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights is concerned that there is not adequate housing for al the people who will be displaced. According to the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness there are more than 3,100 homeless in the city with 1,126 shelter spaces available.
Many old movies and TV shows depicted guns as being prevalent in the "wild west" era and the latest Edmonton Police Service news release is reminescent of that era. According to this morning's Edmonton Police Service news release gun violence has increased by 42% compared to last year. The news release states 204 shootings have been reported as of November 30th and many had the potential for innocent bystanders to be harmed. In addition to the shootings 825 firearms have been seized by police.