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Crime down significantly in Westlock for first quarter of 2021

Property crimes, including thefts and assaults, down by 99 files compared to 2020
WES RCMP IMG-7709
Crime stats continue to go down in Westlock, as for the first quarter of 2021 the detachment has dealt with 113 fewer files.

WESTLOCK – Crime numbers continue to decline in Westlock, as police have dealt with nearly 100 fewer property crimes in the first quarter of 2021 and 113 less files over overall.

At the April 26 Town of Westlock council meeting, Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Al Baird presented his monthly report, which also detailed the first three months of 2021 which show significant drops in most crime categories.

“There’s no scientific proof of it, but I think COVID has really played a role in this. To me I’m waiting for things to balance out,” said Baird in a follow-up interview. “I anticipate things to change eventually and we want to make sure we’re on top of it the best we can and be proactive the best we can.”

Property crimes, which includes break and enters, theft of motor vehicles and theft under $5,000, continue to show the biggest decline and are down 99 from January to March 2021 versus the previous year, while there were 22 fewer files in March 2021 versus March 2020. Specifically, break and enters are down 75 per cent for the quarter (nine in 2021 versus 36 in 2020), while theft under $5,000 is down by more than 50 per cent (23 in 2021 versus 59 in 2020) and fraud is down 60 per cent, with 10 cases in 2021 compared to 25 in 2020.

Overall, the detachment has dealt with 113 fewer files for the same three-month period versus 2020 and 44 less versus 2019, while March shows a 16-file decrease over 2020 and 19 fewer cases compared to 2019.

“We had a high last year (first quarter) for total property crimes at 181, but the year previous was 108 and this year is 82. So maybe some of it is COVID, but we’ve also been watching our prolific offenders more which has helped to drop those numbers,” Baird continued.

“We already know through years of experience that a small amount of people are responsible for a large number of files. So, as part of our APP (annual performance plan), we’re keeping tabs on them, especially if they have court release orders. But we still need people to call in because we can’t be everywhere.”

Person crimes, like assaults, uttering threats and robberies, are down by four versus 2020, although the March 2021 total shows six additional cases compared to March 2020. Meanwhile, other Criminal Code matters are down 10 for the quarter and identical for March 2020 and 2021 at 12 cases.

Reportable collisions are also down 14 for the three-month period, while suspicious persons/vehicles are down 46 files, with March showing a decrease of seven.

“That’s gone down almost half from the same time period in 2020,” Baird noted.

One stat that has increased are false or abandoned 911 calls, which are up 33 for the quarter.

“Sometimes we’re getting calls from 911 prefixes, which means it’s coming from an inactive phone with no phone number associated to it. So that could be a child playing an old phone, but there’s no way to follow up with those numbers — if it happens to bounce off a tower that means it’s within a 4,000-metre radius, so that’s a big area,” said Baird.

“But as to why it’s increased so much, I really don’t know. There’s really not much we can do with them.”

Detachment staffing

Baird told council that they are fully staffed, including a new public servant for the front who started April 27, but are expecting three other transfers out this year including a corporal supervisor — the replacement is expected in the second week of May, while the replacement constables have yet to be assigned.

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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