West Shore RCMP reported quarterly crime statistics to the City of Colwood earlier this week which show that while some crime has decreased in the West Shore, other types have gone up.
A table in the report demonstrating the number of crimes filed by West Shore RCMP shows there has been an increase in crimes such as residential break and enters, thefts from motor vehicles, fraud and fatal traffic collisions between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 of this year in comparison to the same time frame last year.
Residential break and enters increased by 36 per cent with 159 incidents filed by the RCMP this year.
Thefts from motor vehicles increased by 35 per cent with 531 incidents filed by the RCMP this year.
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Fraud increased by 33 percent with 371 cases filed by RCMP this year and finally, fatal traffic collisions increased by 33 per cent with four cases filed this year.
Two crimes that show a significant decrease in the table are drug production and business break and enters.
The number of drug production files decreased by 47 per cent with eight cases filed by the RCMP while business break and enters decreased by 26 per cent with 52 cases filed by RCMP this year.
In total, the West Shore RCMP received 15,949 calls for service between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2018. The RCMP filed 16,855 crimes total in the same time frame. Both numbers are an increase from last year.
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In both years, Langford made the most calls for service, followed by Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands and First Nations Reserves.
Majority of the calls attended were listed as priority three, meaning they were routine and did not have a threat to life or property at the time.
Seven per cent of the calls were priority one, meaning they required urgent attention and were potentially life threatening.
According to the report, West Shore RCMP had six priorities for the 2018/2019 fiscal year. They were to prevent and reduce organized crime, enhance road safety (particularly speeding), community engagement, enhance relationships with Indigenous communities in the area, reduce property crimes and reduce crimes against persons.
West Shore RCMP was not able to comment on the report on Wednesday.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
