‘Starting to become a thing’: Saskatoon community uses social media to tackle crime

WATCH: With the crime rate going back up since the pandemic in Saskatoon, there’s one community that’s using social media to tackle the issue.

With crime rates increasing in Saskatoon since the pandemic, one community is being vigilant and posting incidents on social media to try to tackle the issue.

Police say using technology in this way is a good start, but more needs to be done to help the police.

Video of doorbell cam footage capturing crime is commonly seen on the Stonebridge Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page, which has over 12,000 followers. Followers routinely post incidents of crime in their community.

Brady Taylor started the page in 2012 after moving to the neighbourhood and dealing with break-ins to his work vehicle, which had expensive equipment inside.

“I didn’t really know my neighbours that well, and I knew they had cameras. Facebook groups were just starting to become a thing, and I said, well, maybe this is a way I can connect with my neighbours that I don’t really know, and maybe it might gain traction,” Taylor told CTV News.

According to Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) statistics, crime increased after the pandemic and has since levelled off.

Police say the concept of connecting with neighbours to monitor and report is valuable.

“Ensuring that your place is properly secured is vital, and working together with your neighbours and family to ensure that your property is secure,” SPS inspector Tony Landry said.

The Stonebridge neighbourhood watch page features numerous posts about crime, including porch piracy, bike thefts, vehicle break-ins, and suspicious individuals. But does this mean property crime is higher in Stonebridge?

“The neighbourhood is growing, yes, based on an increase in residential builds. But the crime itself is decreasing,” Landry said.

The inspector, who has been with the Saskatoon police for over 20 years, says this might not be the entire picture.

“We’ve only been receiving about 50 per cent of property crime reporting, so we don’t have all the data.”

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While it’s positive that people are posting on social media, those incidents aren’t recorded in SPS statistics unless residents report the crime to the police.

Landry confirms that Stonebridge residents report two per cent less than the average for other neighbourhoods.

“They want safety and security for everyone in the neighbourhood. For them to post social media videos, which are very informative to the neighbourhood, it’s essential they also report the incident.”

Reporting incidents is vital so police resources can be allocated appropriately to the neighbourhoods that need them, he says.

Taylor says he has seen many success stories from posts on the page.

“Oh, yes, absolutely, even with lost items or items that were discarded and stuff like that,” Taylor said.

According to the police, they can also use photos and videos to help with investigations.

Overall, crime in Stonebridge accounts for two per cent of total property crime in the city.