Edmonton parent Nicole Libich said her son has been beaten and robbed on public transit by gang members who go to his former school..Libich told the Western Standard her 18-year-old son refuses to ride public transit because it is too dangerous and fears if he goes to the police, gang members will make him pay because they ride transit and go to his former school.."He is taking online schooling, he's terrified to go to school on the public transit in Edmonton and be near the Southgate Centre because Southgate Centre is a really hot spot for robbing and assaults by gang members," said Libich. .The Edmonton Police Service said it shares the concerns of city residents about crime and disorder in the transit system and continues to respond to calls for service across the city as always, including on the transit system.."EPS Crime Suppression Branch, Healthy Street Operations Centre (HSOC) Community Safety Teams as well as EPS Neighbourhood Beats proactively patrol transit locations numerous times each day, in addition to the regular daily calls for service that police attend whenever they are called to a transit location," said EPS spokesperson Cheryl Voordenhout.."The EPS is committed to using the resources available to address both proactive and emergent situations on transit and safety remains the EPS’ number one priority.".The school Libich's son used to attend issued a warning to parents about the hot spot areas where her son claims gang members from his school hang out and rob students.."I wanted to let you know about some incidents that were brought to the school's attention," said Harry Ainlay High School principal Camille Loken. ."In the last few months, students and parents have reported a number of incidents that happened at Southgate Mall involving Harry Ainlay students and youth from other schools in the area.".She said many of the students at the school and other schools in the area visit them all during breaks and after school. Some have been involved in or affected by these incidents, and EPS is investigating them. .Camille admitted in the letter that the school values open, honest communication with parents such as Libich. ."I wanted to let you know that we hear that you know what we hear has been happening," she said. ."Together we can continue to keep our school community safe." .However, Libich feels a letter is not enough as students fear telling on other students who commit crimes as they are gang members.."My son is the one who's getting robbed at knifepoint in trying to get to school on Edmonton public transit and the school is doing nothing about it," said Libich.."It's right under their nose and it's happening to kid after kid after kid.".When he was going to school, she said he would ride transit wearing his cheapest jogging pants. He would wear his oldest sweatshirt to look poor. ."He would take transit without his book bag, without any of the stuff that he's gotten from us," she said.."As parents, you know, like school clothes and stuff like that because they (gang members) will steal it right off of his back." .Libich said her younger son, who is 16 years old, was chased outside at a station by a group of people with a machete and pepper spray. ."These gangs prey on the less fortunate in the LRTs and transit system with their drugs," she said.."Teenage kids, get into gangs, and then they take it to school and threaten kids at school."
