Mounties see drop in property crime, increase in suspicious persons

Overall, RCMP state that property crime this year is within range of previously reported data. Stats indicated an increase of only one incident (7.7 per cent) in March, followed up by a decrease of two incidents (12.5 per cent) so far in April.

As expected due to store closures or controlled access being implemented, shoplifting reports were down more than 35 per cent in March and nearly 75 per cent in April compared to last year.

Despite this positive news for businesses, police have received an increase in suspicious circumstances and unwanted person files in both March and April compared to last year. The RCMP suspect that this increase is a result of more people being at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and reporting what they see.

undefined

Chart representing comparable crime statistics supplied by PG RCMP.

Business owner urges for zero-tolerance on crime

“The business owners, we understand the cost of policing is large, but if it’s justs imply to show your faces as RCMP and walk the streets that does nothing for us.”

Bernie Schneider, owner of 1st Avenue Tavern, has long been pushing the RCMP to implement a ‘zero-tolerance’ on crime method of policing.

Having to close down his restaurant as a result of the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, Schneider says it’s needed now more than ever.

“I believe it was in 2010 was the last time there was a zero-tolerance on crime in the downtown. Somebody needs to talk to the RCMP about that and find out how successful it was. From my understanding, it was very successful, and that’s from RCMP officers I’ve spoken to.”

He says prior to the pandemic, the situation downtown was bad, but at least business owners were around to tell individuals to move along. He says now with many of the businesses not operating, there are people in every doorway.

“Even more so now because there’s no way for the homeless population to blend into the crowd that’s walking around in the downtown area. Absolute concern for downtown business owners that the issue is getting worse rather than better.”

While many restaurants are already having to face the loss of revenue due to closures, some have moved to alternative service methods such as utilizing Skip The Dishes, however, Schneider says many restaurants feel it’s not feasible to operate at all.

As a result, while not operating, business owners are also facing stress and worry about their business’ physical wellbeing.

“We’ve come down probably a handful of times in the last month just to check up on it. We do have some staff that lives upstairs so that’s a bonus for us. Unfortunately, other businesses don’t have the ability to have the staff to do that, and those are the people I would, I guess, that are getting broken into.”

Earlier this month, there were three reported break and enters on commercial businesses, spanning from April 5 to April 13.

by Ethan Ready

Mounties see drop in property crime, increase in suspicious persons

What's Trending