Small fires are driving a big increase in arson cases, sa国际传媒 councillors heard Monday.听
Reports of arson are up 81 per cent in just one year, RCMP Supt. Kara Triance told council in a regular update.听
She said the rise is due in part to greater collaboration between police and the sa国际传媒 Fire Department. Whenever a fire is deemed to be suspicious in nature, firefighters call police who also respond to the scene, Triance said.听
Some of the suspicious fires may be small-scale in nature, she said, citing the example of a dumpster fire with no injuries or extensive damage. But the police still log the incident with the hope of identifying those responsible.听
鈥淎rson remains on our focus and of course we use data-led policing,鈥 Triance said.听
Overall, recent crime stats present an encouraging view of public safety in sa国际传媒, she said.听
鈥淚 do believe that crime is trending down, absolutely, and sa国际传媒 is becoming safer year over year,鈥 she said.听
From April through June, break-ins in sa国际传媒 were down 38 per cent compared to the same period last year, Triance says. Frauds were also down seven per cent, and the making and distribution of child sexual abuse material was down 32 per cent.听
鈥淪eeing a marked improvement in break-and-enters is something to celebrate. Itsa国际传媒 very important to our homeowners and business operators to know that those who are preying on them are being dealt with,鈥 Coun. Luke Stack said.
Property crime has also dropped 11 per cent in the past year, Triance says.
Coun. Ron Cannan referred to the weekend home invasion and stabbing of a woman in her own home, and asked Triance to provide assurance to the community that the incident was a 鈥渙ne-off鈥 and not indicative of worrisome increase in crime.听
Triance said police did a 鈥渢remendous鈥 job in swiftly arresting a suspect based on information from witnesses, and noted the suspect is in custody. She said she couldn鈥檛 comment further as the matter is now before the courts.听
听
听
