Police patrols up, property crime down

Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]

Property crime is down year-on-year in Jasper.

Theft, vehicle theft and possession of stolen goods have seen a big drop compared to last year, according to official statistics released by the RCMP.

The report compared crimes from January to June 2019 and 2018.

“I like seeing that theft of motor vehicles are down,” said Constable Patrick Vallee from the Jasper detachment.

“Seeing it down is great, we are always trying to do more prevention.”

There were five thefts of motor vehicles January to June last year and two this year, 49 incidents of theft over and under $5,000 last year and 30 this year, and four reports of possession of stolen goods last year compared to two this year.

Vallee said the drop was down to a combination of factors.

“It’s part of a trend,” he said.

“Also the fact less people are staying in town because of Whistlers being closed is part of the equation. 

“We have also been increasing out patrols in town in residential areas.”

Vallee said since he moved here a few years ago the focus of patrols has moved from downtown, where there were issues of business windows being smashed, to residential areas.

The Edson Integrated Traffic Unit is also in town more often, and while they are more highway focussed, they patrol residential areas for impaired driving enforcement, too.

“I think us being more visible is making a difference,” said Vallee.

In Jasper, two break and enter crimes were reported in the first half of 2018, compared to seven this year - an increase of 250 per cent.

But Vallee said out of those seven reports, only one has resulted in charges.

“Most of those were deemed unfounded,” he said.

Across Alberta, the trends are similar.

The RCMP data shows a four per cent increase in break and enter crimes in Alberta from last year to this year.

Theft of motor vehicles is down three per cent, theft over and under $5,000 is down five per cent, and possession of stolen goods is down seven per cent.