A family is upset about the response from the Winnipeg Police Service regarding a trespasser looking through their backyard while their son was home alone.
Crystal Watson of Winnipeg said she and her husband were out grocery shopping on Saturday when her phone buzzed.
“We got a notification from our camera in the back that someone was in our backyard, (and it) looked like (they were) scoping out our house,” Watson said on Monday.
“It’s scary knowing your kids are home, and you’re not home; something could happen.”
She called her 15-year-old son, who was at home, and he quickly dialed 911.
“It was scary at first because someone was in my backyard without knowing them,” Justin Watson said.
Security camera video from their house in the West Alexander neighbourhood shows someone looking through their front and back yards. Minutes later, the person is gone.
Although nothing was taken from their yard this time, the family is upset over response times from the Winnipeg Police Service.
“It took about two and a half hours for them to come, even after my son called them,” Crystal said.
Calls ‘prioritized in importance’: police
Winnipeg police confirmed the incident on Saturday to CTV News.
They say depending on the resources available and whether a person’s life is at risk, response times can vary.
“Whenever we get a call that comes in, it is prioritized in importance as far as the threat to property or to a person,” said Const. Claude Chancy with the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS).
“Of course there’s precedent set with a person; that will take precedent over a threat to property.”
Still, Watson wants to know how she can better protect her family.
They installed the security cameras after their barbecue was stolen in May, minutes after they used it. She now refuses to keep anything in their backyard out of fear.
“We took things in our own hands, and we put boards on our gate to make it higher so they can’t jump in the back,” Watson said.
Property crime up in neighbourhoods
The WPS acknowledged property crime is up for both the Centennial and West Alexander neighbourhoods. Over the past year in West Alexander, property crime is up 22.9 per cent. Whereas in Centennial, that number is 36.1 per cent.
Chancy is asking the public to report every property crime incident to help better serve the community.
“People have to be diligent in realizing we are looking after their best interests,” Chancy said.
“We are interested in finding out what those incidents are so we can actually find out where the areas of concern are so we can allocate those resources properly and deter the crime in those communities.”
CTV News reached out to the Winnipeg Police Board for comment. Colleen Mayer, chair of the board, was not available for an interview, but she did send a statement.
“While the Winnipeg Police Board cannot comment on the details of an individual police response or investigation, we understand that when residents see concerning behaviour near their home, it can be unsettling and frustrating when the response does not meet their expectations,” the statement reads.
“The Board monitors response times and community perceptions as key indicators of the Winnipeg Police Service’s success in achieving those goals.”
Mayer’s statement said community members are encouraged to report crime and suspicious activity to police and ensure personal property remains secured.
