Insp. John Sutherland of the Battlefords RCMP detachment addressed council at the regular meeting of town council in Battleford Monday evening.
The purpose for Sutherland’s visit was to provide council updated statistical data on crime so far this year.
According to the report, the overview of data showed that calls for service and property crimes have increased from the same period last year.
The data shows the offence of break and enter to a residence increased from seven in the third quarter of 2015 to 23 during the same period of this year. Forty-eight per cent of the reported break and enters were to unlocked garages. Sutherland also noted three locked homes were broken into.
Property offences also rose during the third quarter of 2015 to 2016 from 199 to 303.
While some crimes showed a slight downturn, as is the case in provincial traffic offences, which went from 113 instances to 104 this year, the overall number of offences is up.
As to why Battleford is seeing a rise in crime, Sutherland pointed to similar data being reported across the country and noted that periods of economic downturn often trigger an increase in crime.
Sutherland added that residents can help deter criminals from targeting their property by always locking their doors.
