Police chief warns mobile-device users to pay attention to their surroundings

Police Chief Danny Smyth is warning Winnipeggers to pay attention to their surroundings when they use mobile electronics.

Smyth told the Winnipeg Police Board Friday that a smalluptick in the incidence of violent crime is due in part to robberies of people who are using electronics.

During the first three months of this year, the police reported 1,874 violent-crime incidents took place. That's a five per cent increase from 1,778 during the first three months of2016.

Police chief warns mobile-device users to pay attention to their surroundings

8 years ago

Duration 1:22

Police Chief Danny Smyth is warning Winnipeggers to pay attention to their surroundings when they use mobile electronics.

"It's not a dramatic increase, but it is an increase," Smyth told reporters following the meeting, stating the rise is due to a dramatic increase in robberies.

"We're trying to make people more aware of their circumstances and surroundings to try to prevent them from becoming victimized," he said.

"When I'm out and about in the community I see a lot of people zoned out with their hand-held devices and their headphones. It makes people unaware of what's going on around them and it can make them vulnerable."

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Reports of property crime in Winnipeg in the first three months of2017 weredown significantly from the previous year. The number of reported crimesdropped to 4,690 from 5,790, for a decrease of 19 per cent.

The number of crimes reported to police isn't always equal to the actual incidence of crime,as some offencesare more likely to be reported than others.

For example, the number of reported homicides and car thefts are believed to match up closely with the actual incidence of those crimes, whilethe numberof sexual assaults and property crimes are believed toexceed the number of reports.

Winnipeg Police warning to mobile-device users

8 years ago

Duration 2:30

Police Chief Danny Smyth is warning Winnipeggers to pay attention to their surroundings when they use mobile electronics. Smyth told the Winnipeg Police Board Friday that a small uptick in the incidence of violent crime is due in part to robberies of people who are using electronics.