More than two-dozen residents and four Surrey RCMP officers sat down to discuss local issues over a cup of coffee Friday morning in Cloverdale.
The informal July 24 Coffee with a Cop meeting at the Rustic Rooster was hosted by the Cloverdale/Port Kells District 4 office.
Topics varied from auto theft, violence and block watch programs but the number one issue was residential break-ins. Whether it’s in the paper, on the news or via social media, everyone seems to have heard of someone who has had a break-in.
According to the Surrey RCMP’s latest quarterly crime report, residential break-ins have increased by more than 20 per cent since last year.
However, District 4 Commander Sgt. Dan Gibbons said the number of break-ins in Cloverdale isn’t higher than in other areas of Surrey, and that the sudden spike of crime can easily be explained.
“You have maybe a group or an active criminal who is hitting a certain area and that’s what causes spikes,” he said. “So, once that person is caught or incarcerated or assembles somewhere else that [crime levels] will drop down.”
Gibbons said property-related crime is the main issue the Cloverdale area is currently facing.
District 4 has received an increasing number of reports involving auto-theft and theft from auto. He emphasized the importance of not leaving valuables in the car and for to use anti-theft devices such as club and immobilizers.
“We really encourage people to observe and report, to get to know your neighbours and to really consider joining a block watch program,” he said.
The next Coffee with a Cop meeting is this Friday (July 31) at Moka House in South Surrey (#40 16041 24 Avenue) from 9-10 a.m.
Anyone witnessing any sort of suspicious activity is encouraged to call 911 or report it to the non-emergency number 604-599-0502.
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