Trespassing and Vandalism

Trespassing and Vandalism
 
Being posted to guard a construction site or other location usually means you are there
to protect the property from incidents of trespassing and vandalism, among others. As
such, it is important for you to know your rights and responsibilities in responding to
these kinds of incidents.
 
Generally, trespassers should be asked to leave the premises; if the trespasser complies
with your request you have achieved your goal of controlling access to the site. If the
individual(s) will not comply, you should call the police to come and remove the
trespasser(s) from the property. You have the authority to arrest the individuals if the
police response is anticipated to take too long; however, consider your options before
acting. If the individual is simply loitering on the premises and appears to be causing no
harm, you should continue to observe and record his/her behaviour until the police
arrive. If the behaviour escalates to criminal activity such as breaking and entering, and
the police have yet to arrive, you may need to take action and arrest the individual(s)
following the procedure outlined above. Call the police to advise the behaviour has
escalated and make your decision whether or not to proceed with arrest based on the
anticipated police response time.
 
Vandalism is different in that damages to property are occurring. While a trespasser may
enter and leave a premises without causing harm, vandals leave behind destruction
which is costly to the owner of the property and could potentially cause a hazard to users
of the site. Again, the best action to take is to call the police, provide the information and
await their arrival. You are within your rights to arrest the responsible person(s), but
consider that vandalism is an act of violence, to some degree, and make your decisions
with the safety of yourself and others in mind. Sometimes, the best course of action is to
continue observing, making comprehensive notes which will later aid the police in

catching the individuals responsible for the act.


(from the Alberta training manual)

Vandalism becomes an issue for society. The major effects of vandalism are that it makes peoples of society feel less safe. It is potentially dangerous, and people have died due to uncontrolled vandalism.