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Substantial increase in B&Es may have peaked with arrest
City of Cranbrook council learned Monday night (May 28) that a 100% increase in break and enters to businesses in the city during the first quarter of 2012 (from 11 in 2011 to 22) was due to activities of an individual recently apprehended, charged and jailed.
Elliott Born pled guilty to 28 break and enter (B&Es) and three attempted B&Es May 28 in Cranbrook Provincial Court, with Judge Grant Sheard sentencing him to five-years in prison. The crimes were committed between Sept. 19, 2011 and May 18 this year in Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie and Sparwood.
Sgt. Laurie Jalbert, acting Office in Charge of the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment, told council members the spike in business B&Es may have peaked. “We should see a significant decrease there in the next while,” with Born’s arrest, she said.
Jalbert presented council with a report of 2012 first quarter police activity and overall, the detachment responded to a one per cent increase in calls during the first quarter of this year over last, with 1,902.
While calls for service remain nearly the same, the detachment experienced a marked increase in activity in its jail cells, with a 46% increase (262 prisoners held to 179 last year between January and April).
Manpower issues, with the detachment down nine members (out of 33) resulted in a decrease in impaired driving and traffic offences, Jalbert told council. However, two officers are due in a transfer from Williams Lake.
Council members expressed gratitude to the RCMP for quick work in wrapping up Born.
“A very quick conviction – congratulations,” stated Mayor Wayne Stetski.
Coun. Denise Pallesen, a downtown business owner, half-joked, “I do appreciate the fact you picked this guy up before” he hit her business.
Jalbert informed council that a replacement detachment commander, for recently retired Insp. Brian Edmundson, will also soon be in place.
Another area of concern discussed with Jalbert was distracted drivers, which she said remains an issue and made up the bulk of nine charges issued in the last quarter.
When asked by Coun. Gerry Warner if those charges are from cell phone use, Jalbert replied, “Yes. It’s the easiest (distracted driving action) to see.”
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
