The Moose Jaw Police Service has responded to nearly 20-per-cent more calls for service this year than last year, with some of those calls focusing on break-ins to businesses.
From January to September, the police service (MJPS) responded to 14,359 calls as compared to 12,066 calls during the same time last year, data shows. This is an increase of 2,293 calls or 19 per cent.
“That is a pretty significant amount … ,” Police Chief Rick Bourassa said during the recent Board of Police Commissioners meeting. “So, we are seeing that our people are very busy.”
In comparison, the MJPS responded to 16,048 calls last year, 15,211 in 2020, 15,626 in 2019, 15,642 in 2018 and 15,976 in 2017.
The data was part of the September statistical report that the MJPS presented during the board meeting.
Crimes against people
Total crimes against the person have declined 5.1 per cent year-over-year, with officers responding to 391 such incidents year-to-date (YTD) compared to 412 incidents last year.
The YTD data for this year versus last year shows:
- Homicide: 1 / 0
- Attempted murder: 1 / 2
- Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon/cause bodily harm, aggravated, against police): 248 / 229
- Robbery: 7 / 3
- Threats under section 810: 63 / 41
- Domestic disputes: 71 / 137
- Total: 391 / 412
Crimes against property
Total crimes against property have increased 4.3 per cent year-over-year, with officers responding to 1,219 incidents YTD compared to 1,169 offences last year.
Business break-ins — 60 this year versus 32 last year YTD — are a big issue to which police continue to respond, said Bourassa. Officers continue to work on and investigate all these incidents. Sometimes they find evidence and sometimes they don’t, but they respond to every alarm.
The YTD data for this year versus last year shows:
- Break-ins (business, residence, other): 227 / 248
- Motor vehicle theft: 48 / 47
- Theft over $5,000: 15 / 11
- Theft under $5,000: 644 / 549
- Arson: 7 / 12
- Mischief under $5,000: 278 / 302
- Total: 1,219 / 1,169
Other crimes and offences
The YTD data for other crimes and offences for this year versus last year shows:
- Impaired driving: 93 / 100
- Failing to comply with court orders: 694 / 594
- Vehicle accidents under $1,000: 197 / 153
- Provincial liquor infractions: 121 / 142
- Summary offence tickets: 1,064 / 1,389
- Drugs (cocaine, cannabis, meth, other): 25 / 54
The next police board meeting is Thursday, Nov. 10.
