Kamloops RCMP quarterly report shows property crime is on the rise

The Kamloops RCMP’s first quarter of 2023 shows that property crime has increased by 23% when compared to the same time last year while crimes against person has increased by 8%.

On Tuesday, Supt. Jeff Pelley presented council with the statistics gathered from January to March of this year.

During his presentation Pelley said the Kamloops RCMP responded to 2,448 property crime offenses during the first quarter of the year, which is up from the 1,994 recorded in 2022.

As for crimes against persons, that number is sitting at 701 for the first three months of the year, up from the 650 reported last year.

In addition, there were 12 robberies during the most recent quarter (up from 10 last year).

Meanwhile business break and enters were down to 106 from the 112 recorded in 2022 and residential break and enters are down to 34 from 399 recorded last year.

Theft of vehicles is up significantly with Pelley reported 141 offences. Last year there were 111 thefts of motor vehicles in Kamloops. Reported thefts from vehicles are sitting at 335 reports, up from the 326 recorded in 2022.

Shoplifting is down slightly from the 277 reported in 2022, Pelley’s report shows there were 253 reported instances between January and March this year.

Pelley’s report points to repeat offenders in the city. His report says eight of Kamloops' 16 designated prolific offenders are currently in custody, thanks to the efforts of the Crime Reduction Unit (CRU).

“The CRU has a mandate to be proactive on offender management and further enhance accountability of repeat offenders through the judiciary process,” Pelley writes.

Pelley explains that the program targeted six of the most active vehicle thieves, four of which are designated prolific offenders.

“The efforts result was charges being laid against all six targets, five of the six are currently in custody and weekly auto theft numbers have dropped from a high of 25 to as los three on some weeks,” Pelley adds.

In addition, the report says the CRU executed eight arrested warrants and 102 curfew checks during this quarter while also managing the BAIT vehicle program.

Pelley says the CRU has been progressing and the addition of a new constable position has helped.

"This unit has progressed from one corporal and four constables to an additional constable this fiscal year. All positions are filled with the new constable position being advertised internally with a selection pending,” he adds.