Report a suspicious property
How to confidentially report a problem property in your neighbourhood.
Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) is a unit of the Alberta Sheriffs that helps keep communities safe by dealing with problem properties that are being used for specific illegal activity such as:
- drug trafficking
- prostitution
- child exploitation
- gang-related crime
Reporting suspicious properties through SCAN:
- improves community safety
- empowers citizens
- targets properties, not individuals
- holds property owners accountable for activities on their properties
How SCAN works
When community members report a suspicious property, SCAN investigators can:
- begin an investigation
- gather information
- issue a warning letter
- mediate the dispute
- work with the landlord to facilitate an eviction or resolution
- apply to the courts for a Community Safety Order that can:
- call for owners to meet a number of conditions, or
- allow the property to be closed for up to 90 days
- take any measures necessary to safely and effectively close the property
SCAN operates under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act to target properties, not people.
Signs of illegal activity
If a property is being used for illegal activity you may notice some common signs.
Seeing one of these signs doesn’t always mean illegal activity is going on, but if they happen often or together, a problem may exist.
Some common signs of illegal activity include:
- frequent visitors at all times of the day and night
- frequent late night activity
- extensive home security
- residents that are rarely seen, distant or secretive
- windows blackened or curtains always drawn
- neglected property and yard
- people repeatedly visiting the property who only go to the door for a short time
- residents who regularly meet vehicles near the property for a short time
- strange odours coming from the house or garbage
- garbage that contains numerous bottles and containers, particularly chemical containers
- putting garbage in a neighbour’s collection area
If there’s a suspicious property in your neighbourhood, don’t investigate it or approach its residents. You can safely and confidentially report a suspicious property through SCAN.
Brochure
Make a report
To confidentially report a suspicious property, contact SCAN toll-free at 1-866-960-SCAN(7226), or fill out the form linked here.
If you report a suspicious property, your information is safe and confidential.
No one can disclose your identity to any person or agency, including law enforcement and courts, without your consent.
After you report a suspicious property, you’ll be contacted by a member of SCAN.
If you see an emergency situation, call your local police or 911.