Alberta has a new team of sheriffs that the province says will help fight rural crime.

The province announced the new team of four investigators on Friday as part of the Alberta Sheriffs’ Safer Communities and Neighborhoods (SCAN) unit.

The new sheriffs will be based in Red Deer and will assist local law enforcement in central Alberta between Ponoka and Olds.

The province said the team, like other SCAN units in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge, has experience investigating and closing problem properties using legal sanctions and court orders.

“In some cases, the mere knowledge that criminals are under the microscope has been enough to convince some of these problem landlords to quickly put an end to their illegal activities,” said Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.

Since May, the province says seven problem properties have been closed: three in Calgary, two in Lethbridge and one each in Spruce Grove and Medicine Hat.

“We know that rural Alberta, in particular, is often seen as a less risky place for criminals to conduct their illegal activities. That’s just not the case,” said Alberta Sheriffs Commissioner Mike Letourneau.

“SCAN Central will enable us to keep a closer eye on suspect properties in all these areas and initiate the necessary actions to close them down if necessary.”

The new team cost about $600,000 and has the capacity to handle about 50 calls a year.