High River RCMP stopped a would-be thief on Tuesday, thanks to an alert on a homeowner's smartphone.

Staff Sgt. Robin Alexander says the homeowner saw a trespasser remotely on her phone and that these cameras can prevent crime before it happens.

"I think they're great and I'm of the understanding you might get a break on your insurance if you have them installed in your home, and it really advances our investigation," he says.

He says the system, along with the involvement of a neighbour, helped police catch the alleged suspect.

Alexander says the key to effective policing is more community involvement.

"My message to the people in the area is if you see something that doesn't look right or someone in your neighborhood that looks suspicious, please call. We would rather come and check it out and see if it's just someone out for a stroll."

Alexander says the homeowner was in Okotoks having lunch when she got the alert on her smartphone.

"The most effective deterrent to crime is community involvement, not police patrols. If everyone keeps an eye on each other, we're going to have a much safer community", he says.

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