Moreno Scatozza is taking matters into his own hands to try and reduce crime-related incidents in his Kelowna, B.C., neighbourhood.

“I’m putting up posters to alert people,” Scatozza said. “To be aware, to have their surveillance cameras working, lock their doors, double-lock their bikes.”

Scatozza lives in the downtown’s north end neighbourhood near the base of Knox Mountain, where he says break-ins and thefts have become rampant in recent months.

“We find they’re going house to house in close area of where they stole before,” Scatozza said. “It feels like they’re not worried or scared to repeat the same area.”

Last Thursday night, Scatozza said a break-in and theft happened at his own place.

According to Scatozza, suspects broke into a detached garage and stole several items belonging to his neighbour in an adjacent unit on the property.

“Two bikes, tools, a few other things,” Scatozza said.

Across the street,  Kit Malinao said she had her bicycle stolen last week as well.

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“I am concerned because I don’t know what item are they going to pick next,” Malinao said. “What am I going to spend for, like, cameras and lights and all the locks and whatever? Like how much would that cost me.”

While RCMP report a 24-per cent increase in police calls for service in the neighbourhood in the past six months, they say reported thefts were down by 15 per cent from the same time period the year before.

2:15
Calls for increased RCMP officer funding in City of Kelowna budget

RCMP are urging residents to report all crime-related incidents, no matter how minor.

“It is critical to have accurate crime data,” said RCMP CPL. Steven Lang.  “Accurate data helps to guide police enforcement, future community safety projects, and additional patrols.”

Police patrols have increased in the nearby downtown core recently to reduce social disorder and its impact on businesses.

The city also hired private security, something Scatozza says his neighbourhood may have to consider.

“If it gets worse and we get no help, I’m thinking of the idea of neighbourhood paying for security,” Scatozza said. “Private security just in between like midnight and 6 a.m. so driving around with a  flashlight, calling the police if need be.

For now, he’ll continue his poster campaign hoping it reminds neighbours to stay alert and look out for one another.

He’s also encouraging neighbours to use a security video system to try and catch culprits in the act.

2:01
City helping Kelowna businesses step up security

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An early-morning armed robbery in Kelowna, B.C.’s, Rutland neighbourhood jolted residents awake Tuesday as officers descended on a McCurdy Road home believed to be connected to the crime.

Around 5 a.m., Kelowna RCMP say two individuals allegedly robbed the One Stop on Rutland Road North at gunpoint before fleeing on foot.

Cpl. Steven Lang said, “Officers arriving at the scene flooded the area and, with the assistance of a police K9 unit, determined there was a resident in the 300 block of McCurdy Road that is believed to be connected to the robbery.”

Police and members of the Emergency Response Team then moved in on 330 McCurdy Road, where 10 people were taken into custody.

“Of the 10 that were arrested, four of the individuals still are in police custody. No charges have been laid or recommended at this point,” Lang said.

Neighbour Martin Stairs described waking up to flashing lights and officers lining the street.

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“My wife woke me up and the whole street was covered in cop cars all over the place. They did have their guns drawn,” he said.

One of those arrested and later released was Chadwick Milnthorp, who rents the home.

“They arrested all of us in the household, not sure what reason,” he said.

2:16
Rutland urging increased police support

The incident marks the second major police action at the property in less than two weeks. On Feb. 12, RCMP and the Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at the same address.

“There was some items seized and persons identified. In terms of the charges or what comes of that, I can’t speak to at this point,” Lang said.

Milnthorp claims the property has been the subject of frequent visits from authorities.

“Between the RCMP and bylaw we’re looking at 32 or 33 times they’ve been here in the last nine months. For what reason, I guess we did have some loud music once in a while,” he said.

The property is partly owned by Kelowna city councillor Mohini Singh, who holds a quarter share. Singh said she issued the two tenants a 10-day eviction notice on Feb. 13 following the first raid and was unaware of the number of people frequenting the home.

“Since the first raid I’ve done everything I could to get rid of the tenants from there because it’s not fair. It’s not fair to the community, it’s not fair to the neighbours,” she said.

Singh has filed for an emergency eviction through the Residential Tenancy Branch and is pushing to have the tenants removed in the coming days.

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Kelowna, B.C., business owner David Lea is expressing frustration at ongoing social disorder plaguing the city.

“I’ve never seen it worse,” said Lea, who’s operated a business in Kelowna for 30 years.

Lea owns Toshido Mixed Martial Arts in Rutland, where he says he deals with frequent problems.

“It’s just a constant infestation of feces, crack pipes, syringes, garbage — you know, it’s just, it’s an ongoing concern,” Lea said. “It makes doing business so much harder, so much more expensive.”

Lea said the latest incident happened on Thursday, when a big mess was left in front of his martial arts studio.

“It was a disaster,” Lea said. “My kids class was starting at 4:00. I got here at 3:30 and there was smashed crack pipes everywhere. There’s syringes, garbage. They had a big fire right up on our main entrance.”

On Thursday, the City of Kelowna announced its latest response to the ongoing issues: temporary overnight security patrols.

“We have a private security company under the guidance of the city, who are out patrolling in those overnight hours,” said Darren Caul, the city’s community safety director.

“This private security company is two individuals who are able to patrol the back alleys and and the streets, notify RCMP should there be crimes in progress.”

Frustrated business operators have long called for overnight patrols.

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While many welcome the new measure, some aren’t sure how effective a ‘temporary’ program will be, one that’s expected to be in place for only several months.

“You know, ‘temporary,’ the word always kind of scares me a little bit. But I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said Todd Daniels, owner of Gallery Streetwear in downtown Kelowna.

The city will use data from RCMP, bylaw enforcement and the security team to determine where it’s most needed, but Caul said for now, the city is zeroing in on one area.

“For the moment the focus is on the downtown, because this is one of the areas that is where there is an acute need at this time,” Caul said.

Lea said the acute need also exists in Rutland and is calling for the same resources to be deployed there, too.

“We should be getting that kind of attention that the downtown people are getting. It’s that simple,” Lea said.

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Kelowna CCTV registry concerns

Caul said it will deploy overnight security to Rutland based on the data it’s regularly reviewing.

“Through that data and that daily exchange of information between security, bylaw services and the RCMP, where those focal points are, we will shift,” Caul said. “And over time, should we see a hot spot emerge elsewhere in the city, we would redeploy that security team to that hot spot.”

Lea said he feels businesses in Rutland are being left behind.

“If they don’t start doing something, we’re going to have to,” Lea said. “And I really don’t think that’s good for anybody, but we’re being left with no other option.”

With data-driven deployment of resources, Caul encouraged residents to always report crime to police.

“It’s really important for citizens to consistently report crimes that come up because if the police don’t know what’s happening, the police can’t go,” Caul said. “So through consistent reporting by the public, that then informs the data that drives deployment.”

The $16,000 monthly program is being funded through the city’s public safety levy.

If effective, it could be expanded.

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Rutland urging increased police support

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