Crime decreased by five per cent in Mission to begin 2024.
According to Mission RCMP’s quarterly report to council at Monday’s (May 6) meeting, the detachment recorded roughly 3,600 total files from January to March 2024 — down from 3,800 in the October to December 2023 quarter.
However, it also marked a three per cent increase from the first quarter of 2023.
Thirty-two per cent of the total files were chargeable offences, while the rest were non-chargeable.
Mission RCMP officer-in-charge Ted Lewko told council many of the non-chargeable files are mental health calls or suspicious vehicles that officers are required to attend but aren’t related to criminal activity.
Auto theft saw the biggest decrease from the final quarter of 2023 at 60 per cent, while break-and-enters (other) decreased by 39 per cent, sex offences by 38 per cent, business break-and-enters by 32 per cent and theft from vehicles by 30 per cent.
“Break-ins, theft from vehicles and auto thefts have seen a significant reduction since last quarter due to arrests on prolific offenders involved in these crimes as well as due to education/awareness through our social media or presentations from officers or the [Crime Prevention Office] Coordinator,” the report reads.
Three types of crime increased during the first quarter, including robbery at 83 per cent, arson at 63 per cent and mischief to property at four per cent.
“Arson and mischief are higher than last quarter. Much of this has to do with one person causing a large number of both arson and mischief calls for service. This person was targeted and arrested. Since that time, these calls for service have significantly declined,” the report reads.
Moving forward, police action plans include increased patrols in high-crime areas, identification and targeting of offenders involved in various criminal offences, and crime prevention education.
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