Insp. John Sutherland of the Battlefords RCMP, reporting to Battleford town council members Monday, said there is a rising trend in crime statistics, some of which is no doubt due to the warm weather.
The second quarter crime statistics for the town indicate an increase in property offences from 84 last year to 123 this year.
The increases in property crimes relates in particular to break and enter to residences, said Sutherland, as well as an increased to garage break and enters.
"We've had a series of break and enters in people's garages," he said. "People tend to leave their garages unlocked, the perpetrators get inside the garage and they are finding keys inside vehicles and taking the vehicles."
Sutherland advises the public, "We've had market increase in vehicle thefts and garage break and enters at night. If you do leave your vehicle in the garage, take the keys, lock the vehicle and take them inside.
Vehicles are being rummaged through as well.
Sutherland said, "Oddly enough, some of the more valuable items are left and things like alcohol, cigarettes and change are taken, which indicates to us it's a fairly young crew that's doing this, kids that aren't being kept busy enough."
In the person crimes category, said Sutherland, the biggest increase has been in assaults.
"Last year at this time we had nine reported assaults and this year we have 22," he said.
This, he said, could be attributed to warmer weather and the current economic climate.
"The upward trend is something we're seeing, not only across the detachment, but across the province and the country," said Sutherland, "and I'd even go so far as to say that we did enjoy a lot of years where crime numbers were down and now we're seeing them start to turn upwards again."
"On the upside," said Councillor Susan McLean Tady, "false alarms are down."
