Although the Sundre RCMP has received fewer calls for service over the past year, there has been an increase in property crimes.
The Sundre RCMP detachment's Sgt. Jim Lank presented council with a report comparing 2015 statistics to 2014.
“Overall, we're actually down on a lot of categories. And overall our total calls for service or complaints is down from last year.”
In 2014, there were more than 1,300 calls for service compared to less than 1,000 this year.
“But we are up on property crimes and most of that is theft of vehicles, or theft from motor vehicles, and in some instances break and enters to businesses or homes.”
However, Sundre is not isolated in the rise of property crimes.
“We think this is part of a bigger trend in Central Alberta, where there's a ton of theft of vehicles happening.”
The top choice for vehicle thieves is Ford F-350 pickup trucks, the sergeant said.
Corroborating Lank's assessment is a recent announcement by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, which tabulates an annual list of the 10 most frequently stolen vehicles. At the top of its list this year was the 2005 Ford F350. Only one vehicle on the list was not a Ford — the 2006 Cadillac Escalade SUV placed fourth.
“They seem to be the item of choice,” said Lank about Ford pickup trucks. “They're easy to steal, basically.”
The detachment has also been getting a lot of recovered stolen vehicles in the area as well as out in the West Country.
“So we have made a couple of arrests in Sundre with theft of motor vehicles and theft from vehicles just recently, and these guys were from Red Deer and they weren't kids,” he said. “They weren't teens — they are 31 and 45, so when people say it's always teens, that's not always the case.”
There's most likely a group, or a couple of different groups, of people perpetuating the majority of these crimes, travelling all over rural communities so the cases are difficult to solve, said Lank.
Despite the increase in property crimes, it's good to see that the call volume in a lot of other areas has gone down a bit, he said.
“That's a good sign.”
According to the report he presented to council, the number of assaults remained about the same as last year at 24 compared to 22. Mischief and arson was down to 41 from 49, and drug offences were down to 14 from 20. However, break-and-enter reports went up to 24 from four, while thefts under $5,000 went up to 55 from 41 and thefts over $5,000 went up to five from one. Thefts of vehicles were up to 12 from two.
After going over crime statistics, Lank discussed the detachment's annual performance plan, which runs from the beginning of April to the end of March.
“We're for the most part on track with our measurable objectives on our four priorities.”
Those priorities are to improve police and community relations as well as to contribute to safer youth, work to make the roads safer, reduce crime through the use of a habitual offender program, and to further reduce crime through the use of a restorative justice program. The sergeant said he hopes to increase the number of habitual offenders in that program.
“We've only identified and put in the program three offenders. I'd like to see at least another three over the next three or four months. That has an impact on crime as well, when we can identify the small number of people who are doing most of the crimes and then keep a real close watch on those individuals.”
Although Sundre does not yet have a restorative justice program, Lank said he has continued to work on achieving that goal.
“That will involve a formal program with trained facilitators, and that's going to take some time.”
Having attended a week before the council meeting a conference in Calgary about the topic, Lank said he is “quite optimistic” that there will be a restorative justice program for Olds, Didsbury and Sundre some time next year.
Mayor Terry Leslie thanked the sergeant for his presentation to council, and said it was interesting to know about the targeted Ford vehicles so the public could be made more aware so people can take measures to avoid becoming victims of theft.
“The only question I might have would be in terms of Highway 27 through town,” the mayor said.
“We have heard in the past some concerns about speeding that is an issue for pedestrians walking in and around the businesses downtown. Have you or your members seen any increase or decrease in the speeding violations?”
Lank explained that 50 kilometres per hour — the posted speed limit on Main Avenue — seems a lot faster for pedestrians watching the traffic go by from the sidewalk.
“When you're watching it as it goes by, a vehicle that's doing 50 honestly looks like it's doing about 60 or 70, so part of it is misconception. I don't believe we have a real speeding problem, at least on Main Avenue,” he said, adding there is, however, a higher risk because of the greater volume of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic.
Of course that's not to say there are no speeders on Main Avenue, but the sergeant said he does not believe it's a consistent problem.
Coun. Jodi Orr said she was glad to see Lank is working to develop the restorative justice program.
“That's very important, so thank you,” she said.
“I've had a lot of experience with that program, and it is very effective in certain cases,” replied Lank.
After some more discussion, the mayor asked Lank to pass on council's thanks and its appreciation for all the work the local detachment does for the community.
