M.D. vacant home check program up almost 10 times during holiday season

The M.D. of Bonnyville peace officers are keeping an eye on people’s properties at an increased rate this holiday season.

General Manager of Protective Services, Matt Janz, said the M.D’s year-round check-in for rural properties is up almost 10 times from the past couple of months.

“Typically in the fall, they were doing anywhere from a dozen to two dozen checks a week, but coming to the holidays, I just saw the weekly report that I got this morning, they did 110 vacant home checks,” he said.

“They’re busy out there doing those and they are actually quite intense.”

On a home check, the officers will spend 10 minutes checking doors, looking for footprints or signs of life and take notes about the state of the property to mitigate the threat of theft.

“Sometimes when they go out to do those vacant home checks in remote areas, they get to see new areas. It’s kind of one of the perks of doing it is they get to see new areas of the M.D.,” said Janz.

The M.D. started doing the vacant home checks in 2018 to combat rural crime.

Janz said it’s easy to be on the vacant home watch list.

“They gather all their information and when they’re away when they’re coming back and they’ll do daily checks on the houses,” said Janz.

If people are interested in the program, it’s best to talk to M.D. public safety at 780-812-3332.