While the number of crimes committed against people and property declined last month compared to February 2021, the police chief says it’s too early to look for trends in the data.
“I always caution about these (statistical extracts). These are snapshots of a moment in time compared to the previous year. The better analysis comes through the annual Statistics Canada data that is available in July,” Police Chief Rick Bourassa said during the March 10 Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
“However, we do analyze these, and we do identify if there’s anything that’s jumping out.”
The good news — and encouraging news — is that crimes against people are down 8.1 per cent compared to last February, while crimes against people are down 27 per cent during the same time, he added.
Crimes against people
Data for crimes against people for February 2022 versus 2021 shows:
- Homicides: 0 / 0
- Attempted murder: 0 / 1
- Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon, aggravated, against police): 19 / 21
- Robbery: 1 / 0
- Threats: 7 / 5
- Domestic dispute: 8 / 11
- Total crimes against people: 21 / 29
Year-to-date, there have been 57 total crimes against people, compared to 62 incidents during the same time last year.
Crimes against property
Data for crimes against property for February 2022 versus 2021 show:
- Break-ins (business, residences, other): 13 / 30
- Motor vehicle theft: 1 / 8
- Theft over $5,000: 2 / 0
- Theft under $5,000: 26 / 42
- Arson: 2 / 1
- Mischief under $5,000: 11 / 21
- Total crimes against property: 74 / 120
Year-to-date, there have been 195 total crimes against property, compared to 267 incidents during the same time last year.
Other crimes
Year-to-date statistics for other crimes for 2022 versus 2021 show:
- Impaired driving: 15 / 9
- Failing to follow court orders: 145 / 123
- Pandemic responses: 6 / 25
- Vehicle accidents over $1,000: 48 / 46
- Provincial liquor infractions: 20 / 17
- Summary offence tickets (i.e. distracted driving): 236 / 347
- Drugs: 7 / 11
Meanwhile, the Moose Jaw Police Service has responded to 2,258 calls for service since January, compared to 2,283 calls for service during the same period last year. This represents a decline f 1.1 per cent.
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Thursday, April 14.
