Cranbrook Chamber Releases Crime Impacts Survey

REVIEW THE FULL SURVEY RESULTS HERE.

  • The survey reflects a high level of direct exposure to crime: no respondent selected “we haven’t experienced any of these.”
  • Property damage/vandalism was reported by 26 of 35 businesses (74.3%) and theft by 24 (68.6%).•
  • Crime is widely perceived as worsening: 25 respondents (71.4%) said crime is increasing at their location; only one said it is decreasing.
  • The financial burden is material. Twenty-five respondents (71.4%) estimated crime-related impacts above $1,000, and 13 (37.1%) estimated impacts above $5,000 over the survey’s cost question.
  • The human impact is pronounced: fear for safety was selected by 30 respondents (85.7%) and increased stress by 28 (80.0%). Seven businesses rated the overall emotional/health impact as high.
  • Businesses are already investing heavily in prevention. Cameras (80.0%), lighting upgrades (62.9%), locks (62.9%) and alarms (57.1%) were common; 14 respondents (40.0%) reported spending more than $2,500 in the past year, including eight above $20,000.
  • Open-ended responses repeatedly call for stronger enforcement/presence, support for physical security upgrades, better coordination, and action on underlying homelessness, addiction, mental-health and affordability issues.

The Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce is surveying its membership and the broader business community in Cranbrook, to understand the impacts of crime.

“We know that many businesses have been navigating these challenges. We’re painting a picture of how much it is affecting us, what strategies we’ve deployed, and what we need help with,” said Stacey Brensrud, Executive

Director. “We will use the findings to inform our Chamber’s advocacy efforts. We will also use these insights to help support efforts to secure external grant funding for programs related to crime mitigation.”

All Cranbrook businesses are encouraged to take the survey.

The survey is now closed. Thank you for your submissions.
Contact Us

You can read more here about the Chamber’s ongoing work to address Crime Prevention.

Businesses from part of the Industrial Park met with Chamber, RCMP Engagement Coordinator & some members that provide security-related offerings. Discussions included a Business Block Watch Pilot Project, & the Crime Impact Survey for Businesses.

DID YOU KNOW?

The engagement from Cranbrook Chamber members was the catalyst for the launch of the Business Block Watch Pilot Program. This is a grass-roots led initiative in which a local business approached the Chamber and the Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Coordinator with a problem that needed attention. You can read about the project here.