DIDSBURY - There was a spike in property crimes in the first four months of the year in town compared to last year, according to the Didsbury RCMP's quarterly crime and call statistics report.
Staff Sgt. Chad Fournier recently presented council with crime statistics of reported incidents for the town of Didsbury for the first four months of the year.
There were a total of 113 property crimes reported, up from 91 in the same period in 2018.
There were 19 break and enters, nine thefts from vehicles, four thefts over $5,000, 33 thefts under $5,000, six possession of stolen goods, and 35 mischief to property incidents reported.
“What really jumps out for me is the break and enters going up from five to 19,” said Fournier. “I can say that those 19 break and enters for the first four months of 2020 were all from one person," he said.
• RELATED: Man charged following more than a dozen Didsbury break-ins
"We’ve arrested that person and he is in jail and is currently charged with 17 of those break and enters and he’s suspected in two other ones.”
The same individual is charged in relation to the theft of a humane society change box from a local gas station, the theft of food from AG Foods, and using a stolen credit card, he said.
Fournier is encouraging residents and visitors to remember to lock their vehicle doors.
“Never leave valuables in your vehicles,” he said.
There were a total of 23 person crimes reported up to April, down from 34 in the same period last year and 43 from the same period in 2018.
There were 11 assaults reported, one extortion incident reported, five criminal harassment incidents reported, and six uttering threats reported.
