The United Conservative Party is launching a task force on rural crime.

Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson says, it's an issue that needs a spotlight put on it.

"I've spoken to the RCMP here and a few other folks, the Peace Officers and a few friends who were in the force and it's become an issue, and it's a silent issue. Nobody's really talking about it."

Anderson points to an episode just this past weekend that he says shows rural crime is getting out of hand.

"You know, just this weekend in Okotoks, a young lady was attacked by somebody trying to break into her home. I believe these criminals realize that the rural areas are, I hate to say it, potentially in their minds, easy targets, and we need to do something."

A trio of UCP MLA's will travel to rural communities gathering information and statistics on rural crime and then present their findings to the government, who Anderson hopes will act on them.