Kamloops RCMP have released their third quarter statistics for 2024 and among the highlights is a reduction in break and enters to businesses.
Although, there has also been an increase in break and enters to residences.
The data shows that between July 1st and September 30th, 2024 there were 57 reported break and enters to businesses compared to 126 in the same time period in 2023. When it comes to private homes, there were 61 break and enters in the three month period in 2024 compared to 37 in those same three months last year.
Superintendent Jeff Pelley says there was a focus on offenders that were specifically responsible. “In one instance, we had six break and enter charges against one offender, and crown approved the charges. The offender was arrested and convicted, receiving 714 days jail as well as 12 months probation. That was a great impact.”
“An additional offender was submitted for seven break and enter charges and one possession of stolen property. Crown approved an array of break and enter charges and possession of stolen property charge that resulted in a guilty plea, and the offender received 185 days jail.”
“So that was as a result of focusing in our business corridors and show some of the deliberate impacts that we’ve had. It resulted in a 55% reduction. However, at the same time, we had some break and enters into residences. That involved increases of 65% throughout the enforcement period.”
Supt. Pelley suggests that there are a few people responsible for a large portion of the crime and focusing on those individuals is having a significant impact. “There’s a direct correlation to focusing on those that have been responsible for the break and enter to in the business corridors. Obviously, it hasn’t been eliminated, but we were able to focus on multiple high risk offenders and communicate with our Business Improvement Associations, as well as the city of Kamloops, not only on a prevention, but the police enforcement strategies overall.”
The stats were presented at Thursday’s Safety and Security Select Committee Meeting where Councillor Dale Bass asked: “of all the prolifics that you have, what percentage of them are unhoused?”
Pelley responded, “that is a percentage that I don’t have here in front of me, but the majority of our prolific offenders, anecdotally, are housed. We know where they live. We know where they’re residing, and we focus on them, if on bail conditions as well.”
Bass: “I asked that obviously, because of the belief out by some people that all of this crime is being done by just on house people. So thank you.”
Prolific Offender Data:
• Prolific offenders were involved (in some way) in 85 files;
• Charges were recommended against a prolific offender 13 times;
• 6 of the charges are associated to property crimes;
• 3 of the charges are associated to breaches of conditions;
• 1 of the charges are associated to a violent crime;
• 5 out of 15 prolific offenders are in custody as of 2024-10-11.
