MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM — Property crimes were up nearly three per cent year-over-year by the end of November, data shows, while police handled 130-per-cent more incidents related to hard drugs like fentanyl.
The Moose Jaw Police Service presented crime data to Nov. 30, 2023, during the Board of Police Commissioners’ December meeting.
Data for crimes against property in 2023, 2022 and 2021 show:
- Break-ins (business, residence, other): 225 / 272 / 299
- Theft of vehicles: 46 / 60 / 55
- Theft over $5,000: 37 / 20 / 17; an increase of 85 per cent
- Theft under $5,000: 965 / 835 / 673
- Arson: 2 / 10 / 30; a decrease of 80 per cent
- Mischief under $5,000: 320 / 316 / 358
- Total: 2,203 / 1,968 / 1,873; an increase of 2.8 per cent
While break-ins are collectively down 17.3 per cent, “other” break-ins jumped 28.1 per cent year-over-year, to 82 incidents from 64 episodes.
Other violations
Other violations in 2023, 2022 and 2021 to Nov. 30 show:
- Impaired driving: 93 / 118 / 118
- Failing to comply with court orders: 413 / 795 / 815
- Threats: 54 / 77 / 52
- Domestic disputes: 61 / 96 / 159
- Provincial liquor infractions: 147 / 144 / 160
- Vehicle collisions over $1,000: 194 / 257 / 118
- Summary offence tickets: 1,982 / 1,281 / 1,630
By Nov. 30, 2023, police responded to 42 incidents involving drugs, compared to 36 in 2022 and 65 in 2021, data shows. In particular:
- Cocaine: 9 / 7 / 7
- Marijuana: 6 / 8 / 14
- Methamphetamine: 4 / 11 / 27; a decrease of 63.6 per cent
- Other CDSA drugs, such as fentanyl: 23 / 10 / 17; an increase of 130 per cent
Also, police had responded to 18,238 calls for service by Nov. 30, compared to 17,630 in 2022 and 14,851 in 2021, an increase of 3.4 per cent.
The next police board meeting is Thursday, Jan. 11.
