For the most part, the streets of Weyburn are safe for the citizens and visitors to our fair city. Usually a person can walk down any of our streets, day or night, without fear of being mugged or killed.

Like most cities of Weyburn's size, however, there are areas that could be improved upon. Thus, the Weyburn's Police Service has requested the help of its citizens to keep alert, and be aware of what's going on in their part of the city.

This concept has been around for a long time, and is in use in other programs. In rural areas, for example, there is the Rural Watch or Neighbourhood Watch program. If you see a strange vehicle driving slowly around the area, or in the yard of a neighbour you know to be away at the time, your responsibility is to pick up the phone and immediately let the police know of what you're seeing so they can check it out.

There is also the Crime Stoppers program, another worthwhile venture that annually generates tips to help solve unsolved crimes.

What the police are asking for in this instance is not in relation to Crime Stoppers, however, as it requires an immediate reaction if something is going to be done.

With Crime Stoppers, the police usually put out the details of a recent crime they have not been able to get many leads on, in the hopes someone who knows something about it will anonymously call in a tip.

In the current situation, there are random acts of vandalism and violence going on in and around the community. Sometimes, they're just walk-by smash-and-grab thefts from cars and trucks; other times, it's a matter of people walking around late at night, throwing bricks or rocks through car windows or slashing tires, breaking or damaging lawn ornaments or defacing property in some way, or breaking into garages.

If someone sees people doing this, it is imperative to call immediately; you can't wait until you hear about it on coffee row or while visiting friends two days later. It's too late by that point for police to get any evidence or lead on who the culprits are. The call has to be made immediately, then the police can at least come to the area, check it out and track down possible suspects.

Some of the vandalism that occurs is almost impossible to solve without being able to catch the people in the act, or at least being able to respond to the scene very quickly.

The city police cannot be everywhere, and lately they have been very busy with many complaints of a wide variety. There isn't an excuse for not being there when a brick goes through the back window of an SUV, but sometimes residents have to take some responsibility for their own neighbourhoods and make the call if they see something.

The first step was to make residents aware that these incidents are happening. The next step is for neighbours to watch out for and take care of neighbours. It's in all of our best interests to ensure a safer community. - G.N