Realty Watch
The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board has developed a community policing program to assis law enforcement agenies through communities north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island.
Realty Watch is an "eyes and ears" crime prevention network consisting of more than 1170 VIREB members.
The Canadian Real Estate Association orginally launched Realty Watch as a neighborhood watch program. VIREB launched their version of Realty Watch: Home Security program from 1992 to 1995.
The program works. Fraser Valley REALTORS® consistently receive between four and eight fan-outs every year. In 2000 a Langley REALTOR® found a missing boy!
**One of the key components of this program is called a FAN-OUT. It is a tool used by police in certain emergency situations.
**A Realty Watch fan-out may be used for abductions and attempted abductions for lost or missing children and for other missing persons who suffer from illnesses such as dementia or Alzheimer's.
**It will only be used in cases of confirmed missing persons when police have specific information they can share with the community and VIREB members.
**Neither REALTORS® or the board can initiate fan-outs. That is solely the decision of the RCMP/police and requests are made at their discretion.