There's been a rash of thefts in the rural area over the last while.

Sergeant Brent Hawker with the High River RCMP says they're hoping the public can give them a hand covering a huge area.

"I guess we've seen an increase  over the last three months," Sgt. Hawker says. "Our hope is that now that Rural Crime Watch is up and running they'll be instrumental in helping us combat some of this theft."

He says it's a lot easier for them to come out and check things out right after something's happened rather than waiting a couple of days.

Over the last week or so there has been a theft of collector coins from the Canada Post depot in the High River Shoppers Drug Mart, batteries were taken from electronic highway signs and heavy machinery and a truck was stolen south of High River.