With the Alberta rural crime rate being 42 per cent higher than in urban centres in 2017, farm residents have become more interested in beefing up security. Some are using technology to deter crime on their properties.

Hot topics are typically inflammatory because they demand action. And there has perhaps been no hotter topic of discussion within the farm community over the last couple of years than rural crime.

Importantly, the public and political debate on the issue has driven the provincial government, police, volunteer organizations and rural residents to take action.