Crime statistics in the City of Cranbrook are down in the third quarter of 2014 council learned Monday night.

Calls for service are down 8.7% for the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment’s coverage area, with in-city calls down 4.1% and rural area calls down 18.7%.

“This is the kind of report we really like to present. It’s pretty much positive right across the board,” said Sgt. Brendan McKenna Nov. 3 during a presentation to city council.

Person offences such as assaults, sexual assaults, assault with a weapon, robbery, threats and criminal harassment are up 1.2% in the last quarter but still down 14.2% so far for the year, McKenna reported.

Additionally, property related offences (B&Es, theft etc.) are down 17% in the quarter and 23.9% for the year compared to 2013, he told council before outlining how there will be an increase in those stats in the fourth quarter because of “a string of commercial break and enters that last couple of weeks.”

McKenna told council police believe the commercial B&Es were the work of “itinerant criminals” who have likely already left the city.

Criminal Code offences such as causing a disturbance, public mischief and firearms offences are also down 10.9% the past quarter and 26.5% overall for the year.

Drug charges are also down by 44.4% so far year-to-date.

Luckily, the city didn’t have a fatality motor vehicle accident in 2013 and that run is continuing this year. However, injury MVAs within the city are up 14.8% over last year (31 to 27).

Of concern, impaired driving charges are up 38.9%, with 75 so far this year compared to 54 last year at this time. Roadside suspensions are also up 66.7%, McKenna reported.

Of interest, he pointed out, is the 85.7% increase in refusals to provide a breath sample, with 13 in 2014 compared to seven in 2013.

McKenna told council police are not sure why that may be.

“It could be an anomaly, we’re not sure,” he said.

The spike in impaired driving charges “reinforces that people sill drink and drive despite education campaigns not to do it,” McKenna said. “It’s too high and it’s just not worth the penalty.”

Council members expressed their gratitude for the work being done by the Cranbrook detachment.

The lowering of statistics “means the RCMP are doing an excellent job,” remarked Coun. Denise Pallesen.

Mayor Wayne Stetski asked Sgt. McKenna to pass along “our sincere appreciation to the members for our safe community.”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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