Members of Moose Jaw’s Board of Police Commissioners received crime statistics for October during their recent meeting, which prompted one commissioner to raise concerns about an increase in property crimes.
Commissioner Mary Lee Booth expressed her concern about the increase in arsons, pointing out such incidents seem to happen weekly in the community.
Year-to-date, there have been 22 arsons in Moose Jaw compared to 15 such incidents year-to-date last year, a 32-per-cent increase.
“We’ve been going to a fair number of them,” agreed Police Chief Rick Bourassa.
The MJPS’s criminal investigation section is aware of the increase in arson episodes and is developing strategies for enforcement, echoed Supt. Taylor Mickleborough. This is an issue that has not slipped past the agency; the police service is working to combat this destructive problem.
Crimes against property
Total crimes against property have increased 15.6 per cent this year over last year, with numbers jumping to 1,266 incidents versus 1,095 episodes last year, the statistics shows. Other data comparing this year to last shows:
- Break-ins all kinds: 270 / 237
- Motor vehicle thefts: 50 / 66
- Theft over $5,000: 12 / 9
- Theft under $5,000: 589 / 467
- Arson: 22 / 15
- Mischief over $5,000: 323 / 301
Impaired driving
Impaired driving offences have jumped 37 per cent this year over last year, with police issuing 111 tickets in 2021 compared to 81 during the same time last year, the data showed.
Most of these tickets are officer-driven, which means Moose Jaw police and members of Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan are more vigilant while travelling throughout the community or region, said Bourassa. Higher tickets do not mean there are more impaired drivers, only that officers are working harder to catch them.
Overall, Moose Jaw police have responded to 13,501 calls year-to-date, compared to 13,130 incidents during the same time last year.
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 14.
