Roughly 80 frustrated Cedar residents attended a Sept. 24 meeting to discuss how to combat the area's property crime problem. RCMP Cst. Gary O'Brien said crimes such as thefts from properties and vehicles are concerns many people in Nanaimo have (submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

community frustration

‘We’re fed up:’ Cedar residents form plan to fight property crime

Sep 28, 2019 | 6:25 AM

NANAIMO — A group of Cedar residents vow to make their community safer in the wake of rising property crime and frustration levels.

A recent community meeting drew roughly 80 people to the Wheatsheaf Sports Complex, where property crime victims vented, and potential solutions were pitched.

Longtime Cedar resident Dave McNulty, who helped organize the gathering, said the general consensus was a proactive approach is required.

“We’re no longer going to tolerate it and the concept of creating a Block Watch for all of the Cedar community is probably the best course of action we can take,” McNulty told NanaimoNewsNOW.

While observing the at times tense Sept. 25 crowd, McNulty realized many people on hand didn’t know each other. He said that needs to change.

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McNulty said the Block Watch program would bring the community closer together and hopefully improve safety.

“I think we’ll get to know each other and become united, while the other people, the bad actors I would say would stand out more,” McNulty said.

In addition to verbal commitments to establish Block Watch chapters throughout Cedar, calls were made to re-establish the Nanaimo RCMP’s community policing office, which once existed in Cedar’s main business district.

McNulty said the meeting allowed the community to “air their frustration” in a productive manner, while also brainstorm solutions in the presence of a Nanaimo RCMP officer.

McNulty said property crimes of varying degrees always existed in Cedar, but said the problem seems to have gotten much worse in the past year.

RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said once Block Watch signs go up in a given neighbourhood, property crime rates drop drastically.

O’Brien said 125 active Block Watch programs are in existence between Cedar and Lantzville, involving nearly 13,000 participants.

He said currently only two Block Watch programs exist in Cedar: Starling Rd. just east of the Cedar village core, and the Cedar by the Sea subdivision.

“We can’t be there 24/7,” O’Brien said. “911 is a reactive service, the crime has already happened. The proactive measure is through Block Watch and neigbours communicating with each other to ensure their neighbourhood is safe.”

O’Brien coordinates with citizens to establish Block Watch programs in greater Nanaimo, which he said is currently seeing a new chapter set up nearly every week.

He said a designated captain is a crucial position, which involves a local resident who’s in contact with police and all Block Watch participants in their area.

“These are the ones that put the boots on the ground, they knock on the doors, they rally the neighbours together and work with police and get it functioning,” O’Brien said. “Without these people (captains) the block won’t run.”

O’Brien said he’ll forward the request to have the Cedar community policing office re-opened to the detachment’s senior leadership.

Comprehensive information on the Block Watch program is available online by clicking here.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes