Theft categories continue to dominate South Okanagan police stats

PENTICTON – Theft from vehicles, and thefts in general, continue to dominate the South Okanagan RCMP crime statistics.

The Penticton RCMP made its last statistical report using historical data to compare present crime rates with the past, as changes to crime reporting methodology changes.

Detachment commander Supt. Ted De Jager is expected to present the final year end crime statistics to Penticton City Council at their regular meeting tomorrow, Jan. 22, following a presentation to the South Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District board last week.

Among the most notable trends for 2018 is the continuing high volume of thefts from vehicles, in spite of police efforts to educate the public on the need to secure personal possessions.

Theft from vehicles rose from 655 instances in 2017 to 747 in 2018, up 14 per cent. Theft from vehicles rose 105 per cent in Summerland from 66 to 135 occurrences, but in Osoyoos theft from vehicles dropped from 71 occurrences in 2017 to 67 in 2018, an improvement of six per cent.

Theft was a prevalent call for service topping the list in Penticton with 1,461 calls in 2018. The category was also first on the list in Kaleden and Okanagan Falls, second in Summerland and Osoyoos and fourth in Oliver, Keremeos and Princeton.

Property crime was up in every jurisdiction except Naramata, where it dropped from 61 cases in 2017 to 47 cases last year, down 23 per cent.

Property crime was up marginally in Penticton from 3,145 calls to 3,262, up four per cent, but jumped by 40 per cent in Kaleden from 35 cases to 49 in 2018.

Police also spent a lot of time dealing with abandoned 911 calls, which made the top three list of calls for service in every community except Kaleden, where the category placed fourth overall.

Penticton RCMP received 1,228 abandoned 911 calls in 2018, second only to theft when it came to calls for service.

Uttering threats led the violent crimes list with 169 files, or 39.9 per cent of all violent crime calls.

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