Reported property crime in Olds from October through December was down 76 per cent and persons crimes — including assaults, sexual assaults and threats — were down 46 per cent compared to the same period in 2017, according to RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald.
In an email to news media, MacDonald said during the last quarter of 2018, 111 property crime incidents were reported to Olds RCMP, down from 249 incidents during the same period in 2017.
During that same time period, police received 25 reports of persons crimes, compared to 40 from October through December of 2017.
During all of last year, reported property crime in Olds fell 34 per cent from 2017; 546 incidents in 2018 versus 768 in 2017.
Reported persons crimes in the town during all of 2018 dipped by only five per cent; 129 incidents compared to 136 incidents in 2017.
Statistics for rural crime in the detachment's area also fell during the last quarter of the year.
From October through December last year, reported persons crimes dropped by six per cent; 15 incidents versus 16 during the last quarter of 2017.
During that same period, reported rural property crime was slashed by 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2017; 104 incidents versus 153 during the last quarter of 2017.
However, total rural crime in the detachment's area during 2018 was mixed compared to all of 2017.
In 2018, reported rural persons crimes rose 19 per cent from 2017, climbing to 53 incidents in 2018 compared to 44 in all of 2017.
Reported rural property crime in 2018 fell by 29 per cent compared to 2017; 376 incidents in 2018 versus 502 in 2017.
MacDonald could not be reached for comment on these statistics by press time.
