River Heights crime problem focus of Winnipeg police forum

Winnipeg police are asking River Heights residents to come to a community forum Wednesday night following a spate of thefts and break-ins in the area.

• Winnipeggers launch Facebook campaign in wake of smashed windows, vehicle break-ins
• Police warn River Heights residents about break-ins

Property crime in River Heights has been a major source of irritation for residents some even starteda Facebook group that called on MPI to offer breaks on deductibles for the frequent break-ins.

Waldmansaid theFacebookgroup is now pushing for every person to report every incident, no matter how large or small.

In May 2014, Winnipeg police started Project Comet to tackle the problem, but residents in the area say it's done little to help.

Now, police want people, "particularly residents of River Heights," to go to a community forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Corydon Community Centre.

Sgt. Mike Brooker said the force is aware people who have been repeatedly victimized are fed up.

"The service works hard across the city in all areas doing what we can with what we have," he said."Nobody in River Heights or any community in this city should ever feel abandoned."

Brooker said officers want to share hard numbers from Project Comet at the meeting, but "it's very hard to track this kind of offense. It's a crime of opportunity."

He saidthere appears to be "no rhyme or reason on why it happens on one particular night or another, so it is a very difficult issue to drill into."