Calgary 
The Calgary Police have released safety tips after an increasing number of reports of women being groped while walking alone. The incidents have occurred both during the day and at night.
The police say there have been 15 reported incidents in downtown and north-central Calgary, including several in Mission, Thorncliffe, Huntington Hills, and Hillhurst since November 2020 with the most recent incident occurring on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Thorncliffe.
The police are working to track down the suspect(s). The police say the reported descriptions of the suspect(s) have varied, though the method of the attacks are similar in nature. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, groping is classified as sexual assault and upon conviction can be subject to jail time.
According to the news release, the women walking alone were approached from behind by a man and grabbed in a sexual manner. In some of the incidents, the assailant appeared to look for opportunities in which the victims were distracted, either by a device, or during moments when their situational awareness was lowered, such as looking in a bag.
Safety Tips
- Walk with others, or in well-populated areas.
- Stay in well-lit areas with clear visibility for others.
- Be aware of your surroundings – limit the use of devices that would prohibit your awareness.
- Limit the number of belongings that you are carrying in your arms to reduce your vulnerability.
- If you are attacked:Create noise to attract attention.
- Do not try to keep hold of your possessions or valuables.
- Pay attention to physical attributes of your attacker and what they are wearing.
- Call 9-1-1 immediately.
The Calgary police are asking victims who are unable to call 9-1-1 at the time of the attack to call the non-emergency number 403-266-1234 as soon as possible to report the event.
