Increased property crimes linked to drug crisis

Car prowlings can lead to other acts

Rising property crimes in Lethbridge are linked to the ongoing drug crisis in the city, the Lethbridge Police Commission heard Wednesday.

Monthly police statistics are part of regular reporting to the commission.

As of the end of March, total call volume for 2017 was 6,958, down from 7,161 during the same time in 2016, and significantly down from that same time in 2015, when it was 7,557.

But comparing compiled statistics from the month of March in 2015, 2016, and 2017 showed increases in commercial break and enters, motor vehicle thefts, mischief, and fraud.

“It’s kind of a trend we’ve been seeing with the drug problems we’ve been experiencing in the last couple years,” said Inspector Tom Ascroft of the Lethbridge Police Service.

Comparing March 2016 to March 2017, LPS cited an increase in commercial break and enters from 26 to 39 — which was itself a large increase from 15 in March 2015.

Motor vehicles thefts increased from 15 to 31. Mischief was up from 77 to 96. Fraud was up from 38 to 63.

And drug charges were up from 34 to 53.

During discussion, Ascroft asked Sgt. Mark Smallbones of the Priority Crimes Unit why vehicle thefts specifically were on the rise.

Smallbones replied the issue was also drug-related.

“Some of the property crime tends to go in cycles depending on the criminal activity, or the criminal elements that are out there,” he said.

He noted the focus for people involved in property crime has included car prowling to find unlocked vehicles.

“We did have a rash (of complaints) where people were smashing windows, but I feel fairly confident we have all of those players identified, and my office is currently working on laying all the charges.”

LPS has been in coordination with a number of police agencies around southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Smallbones added car prowlings can lead to further crimes in the event thieves get their hands on a garage door opener which gives them a way into a victim’s home.

Significant property crime increases have been seen across western Canada, citing similar increases in places such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Medicine Hat.

“Every agency is dealing with th e same issues,” Smallbones said.

“We’ve got fentanyl, we’ve got methamphetamine and those are changing the dynamics of our society.”