KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY
LOCAL NEWS
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JANUARY 31, 2018 | Volume 31 No. 9
WEATHER
NO. 1 AT NO. 743
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Kamloops Blazers’ head coach Don Hay becomes the winningest bench boss in WHL history
SUN PEAKS SNOW REPORT Mid-mountain: 152 cm Alpine: 180 cm Snow phone: 250-578-7232
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Vagrancy and panhandling in city’s Top 10 crimes of 2017 ANDREA KLASSEN
STAFF REPORTER
andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
Reported crime rates in Kamloops dipped to start 2017, but rose as the year progressed. RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller told the city’s community safety committee this week that his department saw the upward trend continue into the final months of 2017. Between October and December of 2017, there was a 12 per cent increase (339 additional files) in criminal-code offences, with crimes against persons and property rising by 27 and 11 per cent (81 additional files and 198 files), respectively. Thefts from motor vehicles remained a problem in the final quarter of 2017, rising by 10 per cent (57 files) from that same time period 2016. Thefts of vehicles were also up 64 per cent (30 new files) and residential break and enters rose by 26 per cent (11 files). RCMP saw more than double the number of weapons possession files in the final quarter of 2017, compared to the final quarter of 2016, and the number of shooting incidents for the year also doubled, to 12 in 2017 from
TOP 10 FILES 1. Theft from vehicles under $5K: 2,195 files 2. Mischief $5K or under: 1,500 files 3. Cause a disturbace: 1,497 files 4. Theft under $5K: 1,057 files 5. Intoxicated in public place: 925 files 6. Shoplifting under $5K: 747 files 7. Trespass: 652 files 8. Common assault: 602 files 9. Panhandling: 431 files. 10. Vagrancy: 422 files six in 2016. Mueller once again attributed the continued increases to gangs looking to control the Kamloops drug trade. “Now if we’re stopping a car and there’s associated drug activity to that vehicle and the occupants, there’s probably a high percentage that there may be a firearm,” Mueller said.
“Certainly when we’re conducting searches of properties of individuals involved in the drug trade, we’re almost always finding firearms.” Mueller said there are several ongoing projects that will see Mounties target mid- and streetlevel drug dealers in 2018. Kamloops’ Top 10 mostreported offences of the year also reflected another source of increased crime in the city, with files related to the Safe Streets Act (which sets limits on where panhandling can occur) and vagrancy replacing marijuana possession and breach of probation in the No. 9 and No. 10 spots. Those two types of files were up 55 per cent in 2017, with 304 more files than in 2016. What police refer to as “social chronic offences” were up about five per cent overall, with Mental Health Act and disturbance calls also on the rise. Mueller said police will look at making summer deployments in the city’s core areas, designed to tackle social issues, yearround and once again called for Interior Health to help it expand the Car 40 mental health program by supplying another nurse to partner with an officer.
ALBERTA-BOUND: Kamloops RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller is heading to Edmonton STORY, PAGE A4
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SNOW SUITS THREE GENERATIONS
Karen English (left) catches the attention of five-month-old Daisy English, who is bundled up warmly with mom Roxy Castles. Grandmother, daughter-in-law and grandchild are from Vancouver and regularly make Sun Peaks their holiday destination, as they did this past weekend.
arper Mountain family owned and operated since 1973
Licenced Log Day Lodge with hot food & Wood Fireplace! Day or Night - Skiing and Tubing February is Friends and Family month! Snowshoe trails include Chairlift option Experience! Complete Lesson package starting @ $59 photo: Kelly Funk
www.harpermountain.com