August stats reveal crime in P.A. not cooling off

Comparing August to August, from 2018 to 2019, there were increases in a number of specific areas. Total crimes against person complaints which includes assaults saw a 41 per cent increase. There was a 65 per cent jump in robberies when compared to the summer months of 2018 (June, July and August). Bergen explained to the committee the police service has created two teams of seven staff members assigned to directly focus on gangs and violence.

“We are holding people accountable if there is an offence there. We investigate it fully to ensure we are being responsible to the public and the victim,” he said.

Chief Jon Bergen discusses the latest crime stats report with committee members. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Another area that has been a constant challenge for the city residents and the police has been property crime. The year to date stats for crimes against property reveal a 14 per cent increase over 2018. For the month of August, there were 377. This compared to 308 for the same month in 2018. During the meeting Monday, Ward 6 Councilor Blake Edwards asked Bergen if there was a specific age group committing the crimes.

“There’s people we have been chasing for property crime for 30 years that we’ve arrested through our whole career and they continue to do property [offences]. Again the common ties are addiction issues,” Bergen said, adding some of these “career criminals” rely on property offences to fuel their habit.

For the months of June, July, and August, police observed a 59.5 per cent increase in break and enters versus the previous summer. In mid-August, police deployed the break and enter task force comprised of four veteran investigators. Bergen said the team has experienced early success and the measured results will be reported to the public at a later date.

Traffic enforcement and parking tickets

Over 6,700 tickets have been issued by police this year, compared to just over 4,800 for the same period in 2018. Bergen said enforcement plays a major part in the increase, explaining city police work closely with the RCMP through the newly formed traffic enforcement unit.

A two-day event last month (August 22 and 23) resulted in 314 traffic tickets, 117 child car seat inspections and three seized vehicles.

In January 2016, the city began seizing vehicles for outstanding parking violations. Since January this year, 100 vehicles were seized, compared to 80 last year.

—

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

August stats reveal crime in P.A. not cooling off

What's Trending