Grande Prairie man, 34, charged after teenage boys lured over social media

February 1, 2018

Grande Prairie man, 34, charged after teenage boys lured over social media

Police believe there may be other victims in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Australia

CBC News Posted: Jan 31, 2018 10:47 AM MTLast Updated: Jan 31, 2018 2:10 PM MT

Jonathan Karl Breunig, 34, of Grande Prairie, is facing eight charges related to child exploitation. Investigators believe there may be other victims in Canada and Australia. (ALERT)

A Grande Prairie man who posed as a teenage girl to lure teenage boys on social media is facing child exploitation charges after allegedly luring and trying to sexually assault a teenage boy.

Police said they have identified two victims. They believe there may be other victims in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Australia.

“We anticipate more victims and more charges,” Cpl. Dave Knight of the ICE unit said in a video interview supplied by ALERT.

Jonathan Karl Bruenig, 34, was arrested Jan. 23, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams said Wednesday.

The offences against the teenage boy were reported to police by a concerned relative, ALERT said.

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit alleges that Bruenig used a number of online personas, often posing as a teenage girl on social media to lure teenage boys.

“Breunig was mostly posing as a teenage girl,” Knight said. “He was using the photos and names of innocent third parties to construct these personas.”

Involved with junior hockey teams

Word of the charges against Bruenig made its way through Grande Prairie-area arenas, as he was involved with junior hockey teams.

“You never expect to hear things like that about somebody you’ve seen around the rink or have met,” said Kyle Chapple, head coach and general manager for the County of Grande Prairie JDA Kings. “When I originally first got the call about this, it was shocking.”

ICE alleges that Bruenig’s online conversations would progress from sexualized chats to sharing explicit photos and videos.

article from cbc news: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/grande-prairie-man-34-charged-after-teenage-boys-lured-over-social-media-1.4512298

Cell Phone&Kids Awareness Workshop Wembley

February 1, 2018

Sexting Presentation – Wembley February 5 2018

FEBRUARY 5TH

ARE YOUR KIDS SEXTING

TEXTING or SEXTING

PARENTS are you staying ahead of the technology that your kids are using to communicate with their peers and perhaps people they don’t even know??

Attend this session to learn some of the dangers that could be putting your family at risk.

WEMBLEY REC CENTRE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM

9831 – 97 St

Wembley, AB

Monday, February 5th 7:00 PM

Brought to you by Beaverlodge Victims Services Unit Society and Family and Community Support Services

Hate Crimes Up in Alberta and Edmonton

January 31, 2018

Alberta and Edmonton see highest rise in reported hate crimes in Canada

By Kevin Robertson Radio anchor/reporter 630CHED

\Reported hate crimes are up across Canada, with incidents in Edmonton and Alberta climbing most dramatically in the latest data.

Stats Canada has released the numbers on the amount of hate crimes that happened across the country in 2015, showing a five per cent increase from a year earlier. Alberta alone helped boost those numbers with a 39 per cent jump: 193 incidents in 2015 compared to 139 in 2014.

Most of the victims were being targeted because of their religion or race. Incidents that were aimed toward Muslims saw the largest increase, followed by acts against Arabs or West Asians. Crimes targeting Black or Jewish people were also up.

Edmonton saw the biggest jump of Canada’s largest cities, with 45 more incidents in 2015 over 2014. The city also had the sixth highest number of reported hate crimes, at six for every 100,000 people.

Lethbridge Police Services told Global News Tuesday it had two hate crimes reported in 2016, compared to five in 2015 and two in 2014.

The Calgary Police Service said the number of reported hate crimes had dropped from 75 in 2014 to 68 in 2015.

Acting Staff Sgt. Craig Collins said Tuesday he hasn’t yet gathered statistics for 2016, but he expects the number of reported hate-biased incidents to increase.

He said the police service errors on the side of caution when it comes to reporting such incidents, which could contribute to a spike in the numbers.

“I tell our recruits: I would rather they indicate there was a hate-biased angle to the investigation so that the file comes to me – so that I can make that decision,” he said.

Collins said the CPS has seen a rise in religious or race-based hate crimes, as opposed to crimes focused on sex or physical disability. He added that most have been non-violent.

In an email, a spokesperson for the Edmonton Police Service said it would respond to the report on Wednesday morning.

Hate crimes because of a person’s sexual orientation were down nationally, however incidents related to sexuality were most likely to be violent.

Stats Canada admits there was an increase in the overall number of crimes in general in Alberta. It also pointed out the efforts that are being made by police to reach out to minorities and encourage more reporting of hate crimes.

– With files from Kirby Bourne, 630 CHED and Alyssa Julie, News Talk 770

Canwest Robbery

January 30, 2018

Canwest Robbery Sexsmith Area Jan 22, 2018.

Canwest Trailers/Winfield Farms at the East corner of Hiway 2 and the Teepee Creek Road was broken into on Tuesday morning. Thieves most likely broke in some time after closing 5pm- Monday to 8am Tuesday taking the cash box with 2-300 of cash and checks. They took blank checks of both Canwest Trailers and Winfield Farms and already had a Canwest check certified and cashed Friday before the teller realized she had made a mistake in cashing it. The account is now dealt with but we need members to be aware of these checks out there and must confirm identification before accepting any check with these names on them.

Grovedale Arena break-in

January 30, 2018

Grovedale Arena Robbery Jan 24, 18

Sometime Wednesday night after the arena closed in Grovedale, it was broken into. The culprits went through everything, but it appears they only made off with about $40.00 in change. If anyone noticed any suspicious activity in the area please report it to the R.C.M.P. Thank you.

How to recognize if you or your children are being abused

January 30, 2018

How to recognize if you or your children are being abused

Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether or not you or your children are being abused. This information may help you to understand your own situation.

If children or teenagers are exposed to intimate partner violence, the impacts on them can be the same as if they have been directly abused themselves.

Exposure can be direct or indirect when young people…

witness physical or emotional abuse
know that physical or emotional abuse is happening, when they overhear it or see the results, such as bruises, changes in behaviour or people leaving.

Take a quiz on what counts as child abuse in a family.

All family violence is wrong. Some of it is against the law.

Family violence is any form of abuse or neglect that a child or adult experiences from a family member or intimate partner (boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, fiancé(e). It is an abuse of power by one person to hurt and control someone who trusts and depends on them.

Abuse can happen between anyone in a family, including young children, grown children, parents, elderly parents, siblings, intimate partners and extended family-like uncles or step-parents. It can happen in opposite and same-sex couples.

Examples of violence include:

Physical abuse–you or your children are

hit, kicked, burned, pushed, choked or punched.

threatened-someone threatens to hurt or kill you, your family or your pets.

Sexual abuse–you are

forced to perform sexual activities of any kind.
made to have sex without contraception.
deliberately given a sexual disease or infection.

Sexual abuse can also happen between intimate partners.
Even if you are married or engaged, your partner cannot force you to have sex.

Child sexual abuse–your children are taken advantage of for sexual purposes if they

touch someone’s genitals.
let someone touch their genitals.
have sex.
watch others have sex or look at porn.
take off their clothes or watch someone undress.
have nude photos taken.

Emotional abuse–you or your children are

treated like a possession.
constantly criticized and put down.
told that you are stupid or worthless.
ignored or neglected-or given the silent treatment.
threatened-someone threatens to abandon you or leave you behind.

Controlling behaviour–you or your children are

kept in your home and not allowed to leave.
constantly questioned and monitored —including your internet and phone activities.
not allowed to see your family or friends.
Neglect–you or your children are
- not being provided with your basic needs from someone you depend on.
- denied needs such as housing, clothes, food, hygiene, supervision or medical care.
Financial abuse–you are
- not in control of your own or family money without your permission.
- having money taken from you without your permission.
- forced out of your house or forced to sign documents to give over control of your house.
- not allowed to make an income.

Article from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services

Using Force When Your Property or Safety is Threatened

January 29, 2018

Abubakar Kasim Freelance writer THE BLOG

The Toronto Star has raised an interesting question, how much force is too much when a stranger attempts to steal your property or break into your house?

It has raised the issue in reference the ongoing court case of aggravated assault where Mr. Moses Mahilal is charged for wounding an intruder with a kitchen knife. In light of the intruder’s guilty plea, Mahilal’s lawyer, Daniel Brown, is perplexed why the Crown is proceeding with its case, as indicated in the newspaper.

“We give people like this medals, not criminal records,” Brown said in an interview this week. The intruder “may have been armed or may have been violent or had accomplices. My client acted appropriately, under the circumstances.”

The law should be changed to create a sense of deterrent and to send a strong message to the would-be intruder. The sky should be the limit as to what could he or she should expect for violating the sanctity of other people and terrorizing their homes.

The law should clearly address the intruder that, if you willingly enter someone else’s house to cause harm, steal something that does not belong to you — you should expect the unexpected including losing your own life.

The moment you cross the boundaries and invade someone else’s territory, you have committed a misdemeanour that deserves anything in return and you should blame no one but yourself.

It is beyond anyone’s imagination to see someone uninvited into your house, in the middle of the night when your children are all asleep. He certainly did not come in out of goodness. He meant evil in the highest order and harm to you and your loved ones.

You, as the property owner, should have the right to do everything — including killing the person, if necessary. The intruder would not hesitate to kill you and your children if he had the chance to do so.

How can you asses the situation, as the law requires, and what kind of force to use when you are confronted in such terrifying situation?

Does the law make any sense when it requires the use of proportional force in this regard?

Are you going to wake up your family and create around-the-table discussion and request the thief to excuse you for a minute while you are discussing with your family what kind of force to use against him?

Should you be courteous and ask if he needs a cup of tea of coffee while he is waiting until the family reaches a decision? Since he came in uninvited anyway, you can probably ask him to help himself to the kitchen.

What nonsense is this?

As the Toronto Star indicated, the Canadian government recently passed legislation designed to expand the legal powers of a private citizen to make an arrest.

The Citizen’s Arrest and Self Defence Act permits “the reasonable use of force, taking into account all the circumstances of the particular case,” says a backgrounder posted on the Department of Justice website. However, “a person is not entitled to use excessive force in a citizen’s arrest.”

The new law was nicknamed the Lucky Moose bill, after the case of David Chen, the owner of the Lucky Moose food mart in Toronto’s Chinatown. He was charged with forcible confinement and assault after he and colleagues tied up a career thief and tossed him in a delivery van.

A person found guilty of aggravated assault is liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years. As the U.K. Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said, a householder who knifes a burglar will not have committed a criminal offence, our laws should also say the same thing. He told the BBC people were entitled to use “whatever force necessary” to protect themselves and their homes.

Asked about what this would mean in practice, he said: “If an old lady finds she’s got an 18-year-old burgling her house and she picks up a kitchen knife and sticks it in him she has not committed a criminal offence and we will make that clear.”

He added: “We will make it quite clear you can hit the burglar with the poker if he’s in the house and you have a perfect defence when you do so.”

An intruder had forfeited his life the moment he steps in to someone else’s house. As the situation becomes a matter of life and death for the terrified family inside, they should not be blamed for any action they might take to defend their honor, their dignity and their lives.

article by Abubakar Kasim Freelance writer THE BLOG

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/abubakar-kasim/using-force-against-intruders-canada_b_1852161.html

How to Spot Fraudulent Email (phishing)

January 28, 2018

How to spot a fraudulent email (phishing)

Email fraud — or “phishing” or “brand spoofing” as it is also called — are attempts to get you to volunteer your personal information to criminals or to install malware on your computer.

Email fraud — or “phishing” or “brand spoofing” as it is also called — are attempts to get you to volunteer your personal information to criminals or to install malware on your computer. Criminals attempt to fool you by using fraudulent email messages and websites that look like they are from a legitimate company, such as a bank, credit card company, online retailer or government agency. The email you receive may look real, with company logos, links and branding, but beware — you may have actually received this spam or mass e-mail from a criminal. The fraudsters will cast a wide net and send the spam email to thousands of people at once, whether or not they are a customer of the organization, to “phish” for personal information.

How to identify a phishing email

So, how do you know if the email you received is fraudulent? Here are a few things you should know:

Your bank will never send you an email, or call you on the phone, asking you to disclose personal information such as your credit card number, online banking password or your mother’s maiden name. They already have that information.
Be suspicious of unsolicited e-mails that have a sense of urgency and warnings that your accounts will be closed or your access limited if you don’t reply.
Does the email look professional? While some fraudulent e-mails may look professional at first glance, if you look more closely you may notice spelling and grammatical errors, unusual language or branding that isn’t quite right.
Fraudulent e-mails may not be personalized and instead, are addressed in general terms, such as “Dear valued customer.”
If you receive an e-mail notifying you that an e-mail money transfer is being sent from a person you don’t know, delete the e-mail as it is likely fraudulent.

Below are examples of recent phishing e-mails.

What banks are doing to protect you from phishing

It is important to remember that fraudulent e-mails sent out by criminals may look like they come from banks, but they are not connected with banks at all. Banks, however, take extensive steps to protect your personal information entrusted to them and to help you protect it as well.

The banks have teams of security experts working behind the scenes to find these fraudulent websites and shut them down as soon as they are detected to prevent any of their customers from becoming victims of fraud.

Consumer education is also one of the best ways to stop phishing and prevent customers from inadvertently disclosing their personal information. Most banks have information available on their websites providing practical tips on how to protect yourself and your money. Click the links below to be connected to the phishing pages on individual bank websites.

How to avoid e-mail fraud

There are some simple steps you can take to avoid becoming the victim of phishing and e-mail fraud:

Be skeptical. Fraudulent e-mails can look like they come from a real bank e-mail address. If you have any doubts about an e-mail that looks like it is from your bank or a reputable company, contact them before responding to ensure that it is legitimate. But don’t use the toll-free number, e-mail address or website address provided in the e-mail: they may link you to the criminals rather than the bank. Use a phone number, e-mail address or website address that you know is correct.
Never send personal and/or financial information by e-mail.
Always enter your bank’s website using the website address (URL) that you know is accurate. Contact your local bank to get the correct website address if you’re unsure.
Regularly review your bank and credit card statements to ensure that all transactions are authorized. Also check your credit report at least once a year by contacting credit reporting agencies Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.
Check the domain name shown as the link in the e-mail. When you click the link, if it does not match the name that appears in the browser at the top of the screen, then it may be a fraudulent website.
On the Internet, whenever entering personal information, ensure that you are using a secure website. Look for “https://” rather than just “http://” in the address bar of your Web browser as well as a closed padlock in the bottom right corner of your browser.
Make sure that your home computer is protected. Install anti-spam, anti-spyware and anti-virus software and make sure they are always up-to-date. You should also install a personal firewall to act as a barrier to viruses and other external attacks and check for operating system patches and upgrades on a regular basis.

What should you do if you receive a fraudulent e-mail?

If you receive a phishing e-mail, there are two things you should do: report it and delete it.

Report it

By reporting any fraudulent e-mails you receive to the bank or other company being spoofed, you can help us prevent other people from falling for e-mail fraud. Click the links below to find out how to report e-mail fraud to a bank.

Delete it

The best way to protect yourself from e-mail fraud is to recognize it for what it is: a scam. Once you’ve reported the fraudulent e-mail, delete it. Do not reply or click on any link in the e-mail.

If you think you have provided your personal information in response to a fraudulent e-mail, you should immediately report it to your bank and to your local police.

Did you know?

The CBA offers a free fraud prevention seminar for seniors as part of its Your Money Seniors financial literacy seminar program.

Find out more and request a seminar for your seniors’ group at www.yourmoney.cba.ca/seniors.

article from: Canadian Bankers Association website

Mature Drivers need Self Awareness

January 27, 2018

Mature Drivers need Self Awareness

From Issue:

Vol LII No. 1, January 2008

Self awareness is an important tool in helping determine whether or not a mature driver is posing a risk to himself/herself or others when behind the wheel. Seniors who can accurately assess the level of their driving skills and abilities should also be able to accurately determine whether or not they are driving safely or would benefit from a mature driving class or should consider an alternative mode of transportation.

The length of time that a senior can have mobility by driving, can be extended through mature-driver training such as Canada Safety Council’s 55 Alive: Driver Refresher Course. Independence through driving can continue to be a viable and safe option for many seniors, with certain adjustments both to the car and with the senior’s driving habits. Driving qualities that mature drivers must assess are: vision, physical strength and agility, alertness and reflexes.

Good vision is a major factor when minimizing risk. It is recommended to avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night time. This is a time when it is difficult to clearly see pedestrians, lane lines or other important traffic signs or markings. The glare from oncoming headlights is also a challenge for drivers but especially if you experience light-sensitivity. Your car panel should offer large, easy-to-read indicators and symbols. Seniors must wear visual sun protection on sunny days and must also always wear their prescription glasses for the best possible safe, driving experience. Keep up with your eye examinations and visit an eye-doctor annually.

Good physical strength and agility contribute to safe driving. This would enhance the capacity to shoulder check when changing lanes or look both ways for traffic at intersections. The movement required for using the foot pedals or turning the steering wheel also requires fitness and agility. It is possible to improve your strength and agility through exercise. It is also possible to improve visibility with mirror adjustments. A senior should choose a car with automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering.

Good alertness and reflexes contribute to proper attention and reaction while driving. Driving involves multi-tasking and your attention is divided into many priorities. It helps to drive on familiar streets and keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead. Pay special attention at intersections and try to make left turns at intersections that provide a green arrow advancement signal. Scan the road ahead continuously and avoid rush hour traffic. It is also recommended to avoid driving when weather conditions are challenging such as a winter snowstorm or heavy rain. It helps to keep alert if you limit passenger conversation in the car and keep your radio off. A car window should be opened slightly in order to hear emergency sirens. Know the side-effects of your medication as they may influence your reflexes and capacity to drive.

Article from: https://canadasafetycouncil.org

Staying Safe on a Cruise Ship

January 26, 2018

Cruising and Common Sense

From Issue:

Vol LII No. 1, January 2008

Thinking of taking a cruise on a ship? A cruise ship is a safe place for a vacation. To avoid any unpleasant surprises take a moment to review some safety tips that will help insure a vacation, free of injury or crime.

Before you leave home, make copies of important documents that you will be carrying such as: your passport, driver’s license, credit cards and travel documents (tickets, reservation confirmations, etc.). You should also have important phone numbers readily accessible: lost or stolen credit card notification numbers, personal doctor’s phone number (and you and your family’s medication list). One small trip to a photocopy machine prior to your departure, could save you plenty of time and grief during your vacation, trying to retrieve lost information. Make two copies, one for yourself tucked away in your suitcase (stored away from your originals) and a second copy to leave with a family member or friend back home. Many cruise ships will hold on to your passport to expedite passing through foreign ports. You should therefore always have an extra photocopy of your passport in your wallet when you go onshore.

Packing your Suitcase: Some vacationers like to photograph and/or list the contents of their luggage in case of loss. Carry medications and prescription eyeglasses in your carry-on and leave expensive jewelry at home. No need to take the risk of attracting thieves to your cabin. If you do bring expensive jewelry or watches with you, you will need to use the purser’s safe; but remember that you are on a cruise to relax … not to worry about your valuables. Your cabin’s safe is only safe enough to carry small change and a few personal items of little worth.

Do not allow personal identification to be visible on your suitcases. Name and contact information can be put on a piece of paper that is folded down either partially or completely. You can quickly identify your suitcases with creative flair such as a bright orange pompom tied to your handle. Remember to put additional contact information inside your luggage in case your exterior identification goes missing.

On the Ship, you are relatively safe. Stay in public areas and stay alert, listen to your instincts and don’t take unnecessary risks. Imagine yourself and your family being in a small city of strangers. The same rules apply and children must be advised as to the safety rules of conduct. Family members should know where to find each other at all times and common sense rules should apply to all the cruise ship activities such as the pool play. Some scenarios may be less well-known (such as falling overboard) and learning safety guidelines and survival techniques will be necessary. Speak to your ship’s captain about any concerns that you have.

In your Cabin, check your bathroom and closets before closing the cabin’s door. Many people have access to your cabin before you check in and during your stay. Furthermore, cruise ship locks may not be changed as often as hotels. It is best to be vigilant and cautious. Be sure to use all the locks on the door when you are in your cabin. Don’t open your door to strangers and be discreet with the information of your cabin number and key.

Going ashore is an exquisite treat when traveling on a cruise ship. Since it is also an opportune time for crime to take place, learn to be savvy and safe. Use an under-the-clothing bag to store money, credit cards and copies of your passports. Keep purses and wallets on your person at all times. Purses can be easily lifted off chairs in restaurants and wallets can be easily removed from back pockets at busy intersections or elevators. Cameras are another popular item to have stolen. Invest in a waist pack that fits your camera and straps through your belt loops; backpacks are not reliably safe from theft. Deal only with professionals when exchanging money and be wary of offers to separate you from the main visiting areas. Make sure that you negotiate and agree in advance on any fares or fees for services, upfront. If you tolerate the small inconveniences of being safe, you can more likely return to the ship with nothing but good memories.

Your personal safety is your personal responsibility. Have fun without letting your guard down. Don’t accept drinks from strangers and only drink water from sealed water bottles. Don’t walk in desolated areas of the cruise ship (you can ask for assistance to get to your cabin door safely). Don’t drink to a point that your good judgment is compromised. Your best line of defense against crime spoiling your vacation is to plan, be prepared and stay alert.

Article from: https://canadasafetycouncil.org

News

Grande Prairie man, 34, charged after teenage boys lured over social media

Grande Prairie man, 34, charged after teenage boys lured over social media

Police believe there may be other victims in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Australia

Involved with junior hockey teams

Cell Phone&Kids Awareness Workshop Wembley

FEBRUARY 5TH

ARE YOUR KIDS SEXTING

TEXTING or SEXTING

WEMBLEY REC CENTRE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM

9831 – 97 St

Wembley, AB

Monday, February 5th 7:00 PM

Hate Crimes Up in Alberta and Edmonton

Alberta and Edmonton see highest rise in reported hate crimes in Canada

Canwest Robbery

Grovedale Arena break-in

How to recognize if you or your children are being abused

How to recognize if you or your children are being abused

Using Force When Your Property or Safety is Threatened

How to Spot Fraudulent Email (phishing)

How to spot a fraudulent email (phishing)

How to identify a phishing email

What banks are doing to protect you from phishing

How to avoid e-mail fraud

What should you do if you receive a fraudulent e-mail?

Did you know?

Mature Drivers need Self Awareness

Mature Drivers need Self Awareness

Staying Safe on a Cruise Ship

Cruising and Common Sense

Make a Report

GPDRCWA Membership