By Liam Verster

crime rate drops

Grande Prairie’s crime rate drops 20 per cent in March 2020

Apr 24, 2020 | 6:43 AM

The crime rate in the City of Grande Prairie saw a significant decrease in March 2020.

Cpl. Candace Hrdlicka with the Grande Prairie RCMP says they received just 2,622 calls for service in March 2020. That’s a decrease of 16.7 per cent compared to February, which saw 3,106 calls for service.

“And when we look at it compared to March of last year, we had 3,308 calls for service in 2019. So it looks like it’s about a 20.7 per cent drop compared to last year.”

She says it’s hard to be definitive what has caused this decrease, but admits it would be fair to relate this drop with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hrdlicka, who provided statistics of the types of calls officers responded to during those months, says many of the crime types that are being reported are similar to last year’s figures, it’s just the overall numbers that have dropped.

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March 2019:

• Suspicious Person/ Vehicle/ Property – 199
• Mischief – Damage to, or Obstruct enjoyment of property – 177
• Traffic Collision(s) – Property Damage – Reportable – 151
• Moving Traffic – Speeding Violations – Provincial/Territorial – 149
• Disturbing the peace/Causing a disturbance – 139

February 2020:

• Traffic Collision(s) – Property Damage – Reportable – 245
• Moving Traffic – Speeding Violations – Provincial/Territorial – 211
• Disturbing the peace/Causing a disturbance 175(1) CC – 180
• Suspicious Person/ Vehicle/ Property – 156
• Mischief – Obstruct enjoyment of property 430(3)&(4) CC – 128

March 2020:

• Disturbing the peace/Causing a disturbance 175(1) CC – 232
• Traffic Collision(s) – Property Damage – Reportable – 181
• Mischief – Obstruct enjoyment of property 430(3)&(4) CC – 138
• Suspicious Person/ Vehicle/ Property – 135
• 911 Act – Other Activities – 117

Despite being fairly similar, Hrdlicka does say there are some specific figures that stand out as not changing in a proportional manner.

“Traffic, speeding violations have been down, and instead was replaced with 911 act calls. Disturbing the Peace, causing a disturbance were proportionately higher in 2020. 25 times higher than what they were last year, for the same month (March).”

She says those calls could be connected with people gathering when they shouldn’t, as directed by the province’s recommendations in order to prevent a coronavirus outbreak, and the neighbours calling to report them.

Despite the increase of calls, the RCMP have yet to deal with someone breaking a self-isolation or quarantine order, and being fined for risking an outbreak.

Hrdlicka does say that, because of the coronavirus shutting forcing the closure of businesses, there is a higher risk of break and enters or thefts. She says there are people who would try to take advantage of stores being left unattended, and while the officers are keeping an eye out for these crimes, there are things the public can do as well.

“We’re asking those business owners and home owners to maybe have a look at what they can do in regards to keeping their property safe when it’s unattended. Looking at locks, lighting, and even landscaping can help.”

She adds those figures haven’t increased in the past month, but just in case, the RCMP will be upping their patrol, keeping an eye open, and monitoring businesses that have been forced to close.