Murray Wood: Trump's potash claim is more 'art' than deal
The U.S. president says a deal is in the works to buy cheap potash from Belarus, but Murray Wood says Donald Trump proba...
Ratepayers in the Rural Municipality of Garden River, north of Prince Albert, are growing frustrated over a recent surge in criminal activity.
The RM’s council met on Monday morning, and Reeve Ryan Scragg told paNOW that a letter outlining safety concerns from residents has been drafted, and will be sent to the provincial and federal ministers of justice.
Read more:
- VIDEO: Inside a night shift with the Corman Park Police Service
- Public Prosecutions declines to explain why Mountie who broke woman’s arm won’t be charged
- Cops seize more than 17 kilos of drugs from Saskatoon home
Scragg explained a series of break-ins and thefts started last week. Among the items taken were an ATV, a truck and a trailer.
“Then, on Friday night, we actually had an armed home invasion,” Scragg said. “One of our residents had someone in his home in the middle of the night.”
Scragg said he’s thankful there were no physical injuries reported.
The homeowner shared on social media that he was awoken by the sound of voices and initially thought it was his own kids. The intruders ran off with the owner’s garage door opener and then went through his truck, but did not steal anything.
According to a separate social media post by the owner of the truck and trailer, both items were later recovered.
Scragg stated the RM council is really limited in what it can do, as it relies on the RCMP for law enforcement services.
“It seems like we are ringing the same old bell which has been rung many times,” he said. “Crime is an issue and nobody seems to want to do anything about it.”
Scragg said he had a conversation he had over the weekend with Sask. Rivers MLA Eric Schmalz, who Scragg said was very supportive of bringing additional resources to the area. But, Scragg added, the solution goes beyond just adding more police officers, and involves a change to the overall justice system.
“If they were caught Friday, they’d be out Monday for sure,” he said.
Concerns related to rural crime are not isolated to the RM of Garden River, as a ratepayer from the RM of Prince Albert recently told paNOW they also experience break-ins and theft frequently.
Response from RCMP
Acknowledging the concerns around safety, and confirming officers are investigating the break-ins that have occurred over the past week, the Prince Albert RCMP is asking residents to report all suspicious activity.
Officers will also be conducting extra proactive patrols in the detachment area, the Mounties said.
“We want to work with our communities to keep them safe,” said staff sergeant Steve Hurst of the Prince Albert RCMP.
“We understand frustrations about crime. It’s important to know that we take all reports of crime seriously and investigate reports thoroughly. We are aware of some recent incidents where property representatives confronted suspects on their property. If you are aware of a crime being committed at your property, don’t engage with or follow the suspect, as it can put you and others’ safety at risk. Call police immediately. We need communities and citizens to work together with us – legally and safely – in order to protect everyone.”
Recent charges laid
Prince Albert RCMP officers have investigated approximately 707 reports of property crime between January and August of this year, a 20 per cent decrease from the same period in 2025.
Recently, officers charged three people in connection to a break-and-enter investigation at a property in the RM of Prince Albert on Sept. 17.
Later that day, RCMP officers and members of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service recovered a number of stolen items at a home on 17th Street West in Prince Albert. Officers also seized three firearms, tools and an e-bike, some of which were believed to be stolen during recent break-ins in the area.
