MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Persons crimes were up in two of the three RCMP detachments serving Mountain View County during the recent quarter – January through March – compared with the same period in 2023, officials said.
Detachment commanders from Olds, Didsbury and Sundre RCMP all submitted reports on fourth quarter crime statistics and enforcement activities to the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Warren Wright, commander of the Olds detachment, said there were 12 persons crimes reported in the quarter (11 in 2023), and 22 property crimes (46 in 2023), There were also 363 total traffic offences in the quarter, compared with 279 last year, an increase of 30 per cent.
There were six assaults (four in 2023), one sexual assault (two in 2023), two criminal harassment (three in 2023), and three uttering threats (two in 2023).
As far as property crimes, there were three break and enters (12 in 2023), two thefts of motor vehicles (four in 2023), five thefts under $5,000, six frauds (six in 2023), and three mischief-damage to property (five in 2023).
RCMP Sgt. Randy Poon, interim commander of the Sundre detachment, said persons crimes reported were up 27 per cent, up from 30 to 38, and property crimes were up three per cent, from 66 to 68. Total criminal code offences were up four per cent, from 122 to 127.
There were 17 assaults reported, compared with 10 in the same quarter last year. As well, there were nine uttering threats, compared with eight last year.
As far as property crimes, there were 10 break and enters (seven in 2023), 16 thefts under $5,000 (10 in 2023), and 11 frauds (16 in 2023).
Traffic offences were up 137 per cent, from 73 to 173. The increase in traffic offences was due to increased enforcement, he said.
Didsbury RCMP detachment commander Stephen Browne said there were 35 persons crimes reported (48 in 2023) and 56 property crimes (50 in 2023). Total criminal code offences reported were 115, down from 139 in the same quarter last year.
There were seven break and enters reported (seven in 2023), 12 thefts over $5,000 (nine in 2023), and 15 frauds (seven in 2023).
In February, council set its RCMP priorities for the three detachments: connecting with rural community, reducing rural crimes, rural drug enforcement, and addressing mental health and domestic violence.
Council did not have any questions about the three RCMP reports, accepting them all as information.
