About 300 people came out to the rural crime watch open house in Okotoks Tuesday, April 10.

RCMP Corporal Curtis Peters was one of several officials on hand to answer questions and says the one answer he couldn't give was on "What can rural property owners do or not do to protect themselves and their property?"

"What a person can do varies on every single situation. Every circumstance is unique, so getting into hypothetical's is just so difficult. The criminal code's not really simple. When it comes to the use of force, the wording is as much as much as reasonably necessary, and that varies in every single circumstance."

Peters says joining rural crime watch organizations and getting to know your neighbours is a big first step in helping to prevent crime.

Corporal Curtis Peters speaks to the crowd at Tuesday's meeting.

Embattled Okotoks area landowner Edouard Maurice came out for the event, and when he was pointed out by one of the speakers in the crowd as being in attendance, he was given a standing ovation.

Maurice is facing charges relating to a shooting incident that happened at his property back in February.

He's back in court for a plea hearing Friday, April 20.

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