Vernon RCMP detachment

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - Property-related crime has dropped dramatically in Vernon and surrounding areas over the past few months, according to the RCMP.

A recent report released by the Vernon/ North Okanagan RCMP says crime was down significantly from October to December of 2017.

“The fourth quarter of 2017 was very busy in the Vernon North Okanagan as police officers worked hard to achieve a 22.5 per cent decrease in criminal code offences and an amazing 30.54 per cent decrease in property crime,” Supt. Jim McNamara says in his report.

It’s a far cry from the same time last year, when property crime was up roughly 28 per cent with a large spike in thefts from vehicles and break-and-enters.

The numbers show that RCMP are receiving far fewer complaints for break-and-enters. From October to December of 2017, there were 38 residential and commercial break-ins reported, compared to 100 during the same time period in 2016.

Thefts from vehicles, which have also been a big problem in the Vernon area, were down substantially. Over the three-month period, there were 112 cases reported, compared to 200 during the same time in 2016.

Robbery files, on the other hand, were up. From October to December, there were 15 reports, up from three during the same time in 2016. A string of robberies continued into the New Year, with the arrest of one man suspected of being tied to multiple cases.

Police also cracked down on road safety, with a 4.5 per cent increase in check-stops over the three month period. In the City of Vernon, numbers show 43 impaired driving cases from October to December, compared to just 12 during the same time in 2016.

You can read the full report here.

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