Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jan 2016 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2016 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://thestarphoenix.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Phil Tank Page: A3 DRUG TRADE DRIVING PROPERTY CRIME: POLICE Saskatoon's drug trade helped boost property crimes in 2015, according to city police. Acting police chief Bernie Pannell said Tuesday that increases in crimes like break-and-enters, thefts over $5,000 and possession of stolen property in 2015 compared to 2014 can be linked to the drug trade. It's part of an ongoing trend of several years, Pannell added in an interview. "There's an awful lot of opportunistic theft that is occurring and we believe it's connected to our drug trade," Pannell said. "We're seeing it increasing." He cited stealing a trailer from a construction site as an example. Break-and-enters at businesses and homes each rose slightly last year compared to 2014, but break-ins to structures like sheds and garages spiked 21.8 per cent to 486. Cases of theft over $5,000 jumped 33.3 per cent and possession of stolen property increased 13.2 per cent. Total crimes against property jumped 13.7 per cent to 14,717, while crimes against the person - ranging from assaults to homicides to sexual assaults to kidnappings - dropped 4.3 per cent to 3,333 in 2015. Armed robbery dipped 13.6 per cent and robbery dropped 12.8 per cent. Pannell noted these numbers include total charges laid, and do not account for the increase in Saskatoon's population. "There's more people in the city; there's more property," he said. While total crimes against the person may have dropped in 2015, the severity of the crimes has increased, he pointed out. Eight homicides were committed in 2015, compared to seven in 2014, but attempted murders plummeted to three in 2015 from 11 in 2015. The highest increase for a serious crime in 2015 was arson - a 40.6 per cent spike to 97 instances. However, Pannell said most purposely set fires were classified as "mischief" and did not pose a threat to public safety. He said many were committed by children under 12, who cannot be charged but are made to attend a program about fire safety. Pannell credited the police with making residents more aware of scams, noting fraud cases increased by 23 per cent to 1,424 in 2015. Graffiti rose by 16.5 per cent in 2015 with 361 cases. Pannell said there are always new graffiti artists in the city. The total number of traffic tickets issued by Saskatoon police officers in 2015 dropped 15.2 per cent to 29,579. Pannell noted these numbers do not include tickets issued by red light cameras and photo radar, nor those issued by the combined RCMP- Saskatoon police traffic unit. That unit handed out another 3,806 traffic tickets in 2015 in Saskatoon. Collisions rose 2.9 per cent to 7,723 in 2015. City council has set a goal to reduce collisions by five per cent each year. Pannell called that a "noble goal," but said with an increase in the number of vehicles on city streets - especially given the growth of people commuting from nearby communities - it will be difficult to achieve. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom