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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 7, 2013 | 6 Editorial Taking pride in our community Halton Regional Police may have puffed out chests these days -- and it's not likely from any bulletproof vests, but pride. Let's go back in time to 1974. U.S. President Richard Nixon resigned and Pierre Trudeau defeated Robert Stan eld in the Canadian federal election. It was the rst year of regional government in Halton and according to Halton police, the Region's current crime rate hasn't been as low since John-Boy was wishing everyone goodnight on The Waltons. Police have reported there were 1,602 fewer criminal offences reported in 2012 (12,076) than in the previous year (13,678). It adds up to an overall 13.9 per cent decrease in the crime rate once the Region's population growth is factored in. So, Halton may be growing, but its crime rate is apparently not, boasting a historic low last year. This is the lowest crime rate Halton has seen since it of cially became a region in 1974. Oakville's overall crime rate dropped by 6.5 per cent last year. Police said violent criminal offences in Halton dropped by 18.5 per cent and property crime also fell by 10.5 per cent. Individual crime categories that showed decreases in 2012 compared to 2011 included: · Sexual assault down 17 per cent · Assault down 22.1 per cent · Break and enter down nine per cent · Auto theft down 33.9 per cent · Theft under $5,000 down 2.8 per cent · Mischief down 12.3 per cent · Fraud down 29.9 per cent · Arson down 36.7 per cent On the downside, robbery incidents showed a slight 1.1 per cent increase, theft over $5,000 incidents rose by 2.6 per cent and possession of stolen goods went up by 3.7 per cent. However, our roads were safer in 2012 as motor vehicle collisions were ve per cent lower last year. Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner cited an aging population, fewer youths aged 15 to 23, a positive local economy and relatively high incomes -- as well as diligent police work -- as factors in lowering the crime rate. "We live in an incredible community here in Halton and are so fortunate to live in a community where our crime rate is amongst the lowest in all of Canada, and saw a further signi cant reduction in crime again in 2012," said Tanner. "But we also work very closely with our community and our citizens in areas of proactive policing and crime prevention that also contributes to these results." Whatever the factors, these stats are something both the police and public should take pride in. "Connected to your Community" 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Fax: (905) 337-5566 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 68 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Letters to the Editor Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Police must have tools to do their job As a community member, I try to keep an open eye. I have two young children, so when my neighbour was robbed at 11 a.m., we decided to offer our video surveillance to the police, as we could see the vehicle enter and leave the residence. We did not hear anything more. At midnight on May 26, we were woken by a very loud bang. When we checked the video, you could see three young men with backpacks running from the scene. The scene was the community mailbox they had tipped. (It was still on its back at the time this letter was written). I contacted Canada Post that morning, and was informed by its automated system to contact local police, as this was a federal issue. I did just that. I was contacted by a courteous of cer who explained there was no funding for depixalizing software that police would need to enhance and capture the images clearly. So, basically we are allowing these young kids, who clearly have no respect for our community and the work we put into keeping it clean, and safe, to go about their nightly mailbox tipping and trouble-making. It makes no sense to me, and yet if I park in front of my house for ve minutes, the Town of Oakville is there, seemingly instantaneously, writing me a ticket. Give that money towards proper software that will help keep my community safe. Let's hold these punks accountable for their destruction and their actions. Let's make them clean up our neighbourhood for a year and maybe make them clean up the damages done by other kids who have nothing better to do during the early morning hours. Maybe that will make them think twice about destroying things that do not belong to them. Donna Botelho, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. 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