(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
July 25, 2016 - 2:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - As property crime increases in Kamloops, Kamloops RCMP is making it a top priority.
During the second quarter of 2016, police saw 539 more property crimes compared to the same period a year before, according to a Kamloops RCMP report. That is a 37.3 per cent increase, with the majority of those crimes thefts from vehicles or residential break and enters.
In response, the Kamloops police have created a property crime unit which uses a bait car and bait bike to help target thefts among other strategies.
Police also observed an increase of drug violations, up nearly 50 per cent from a year ago, to 295 from 197. The report states the increased number of offences is the result of proactive work.
Overall police recorded a rise of 22.4 per cent in criminal offences over April, May and June 2016, compared to the same months in 2015, increasing to 4303 from 3,515 files, mostly property crimes.
The city, community stakeholders and police leaders met today, July 25 to discuss the community safety and policing in a quarterly meeting.
RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller told the group that while police keep the community safe, fighting crime requires a community effort.
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