Property crime numbers ‘on a bit of an upslide’ say police

NEWS — Keeping a lid on property crime is proving a challenge, says RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller. In a report to the Coordinated Enforcement Task Force today, he said property crime was up 4.6 per cent in the last three months of 2013 compared to the previous year.

“Property crime tends to be cyclical and we’re on a bit of an upside in that area,” he said. “We’re very, very engaged in proactive work in this area. Our approach is to take strong enforcement action and, as a result, stats are up.”

The detachment’s crime reduction unit has been kept busy doing curfew checks, street checks, and reporting breaches of court orders to Crown counsel.

Mueller said there’s a strong connection between drug activity and property crime. The newly named Target Enforcement Unit will focus on drugs, firearms, organized crime and property related offences, he said.

“We are seeing groups that are reaching out into Kamloops and trying to get established. It’s a real priority for us to make sure these groups don’t get established in the city.”

The crime rate in Kamloops rose 7.3 per cent last year compared to 2012.