City crime rate down, despite jump in break-ins
Overall crime is down in Parksville, although police have been more active in recent months.
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Updated: November 18, 2009 10:05 AM
The latest numbers show crime is down again in Parksville, according to RCMP Staff Sergeant Brian Hunter in his quarterly report to city council.
Hunter presented the latest quarterly and year-to-date crime numbers and while almost half of the 15 categories he talked about where up, overall the numbers are down and he's optimistic they will keep dropping.
"Total criminal code offenses are down 10 per cent in Parksville this year-to-date," Hunter summed up.
In the first three quarters of 2009 the biggest change in the numbers came in break and enters to businesses which jumped to 79 from 29 over the same period last year.
"As everyone knows we had quite a spike in B&Es earlier this year," he said, pointing out that there were a number of high profile arrests of people who where responsible for a large portion of the incidents.
Hunter singled out the arrest of Todd Bishop on a number of commercial B&Es and Allen Fandry who was tackled by a tow truck driver amidst what RCMP at the time described as a crime spree and city-wide chase.
He also referred to the assault of an elderly woman in Qualicum Beach earlier this month as a shocking incident people might be aware of, and that while they are following some leads in that case, it is still an important reminder that people need to do what they can to protect themselves.
Read more on Parksville's crime stats in Friday's News.
