4 uw 2 Zz = m DAVID LEA ¢ dlea@metroland.com | Thursday, November 3, 2022 | 3 Robbery, extortion and resen' 2 2 the Halton Police Board on 6 Thursday, Oct. 2’ During its September meeting, the board called on Halton police to provide more details about grow- ctivity after ofices Teported a8 80. 5 5 ber ceine state “during i ore six months of 2022. While much of that in- crease was chalked up to crime returning to pre- pandemic levels, Halton police Chief Stephen Tan- ner acknowledged some crimes are occurring more frequently. Halton police noted in their report that between January and June of 2022 there were 83 robberies re- ported in the region com- pared to an average of 61.5 robberies, which occurred during the same period in the pre-pandemic years of 2018 and 2019. This represents a 25 per cent increase. The report showed an 11.3 per cent increase in sexual assaults with 114 in- cidents in 2018/2019 com- pared to 187 incidents in 2022. There was also a 9.7 per cent increase in assaults as versus 495 incidents), a “We need our citizens to be cognizant of what's going on. Just because we're saying Halton is the safest large municipality in Canada doesn't mean everyone is safe every day.” - Halton police Chief Stephen Tanner 3.9 per cent increase in as- saults with a weapon caus- ing bodily harm (152.5 ver- sus 171 incidents), a 37.2 per cent increase in extortion (a 5 versus 57 incidents), a 4 per cent increase in a vehicle thefts (412 versus ae incidents), anda 15.5 per cent increase in sho} oplifting under $5,000 (811.5 versus 1,012 inci- dents). The report t noted there were a toi oienoes re parted during the first six months of 2022 (7,081) than were re- corded during the same pe- riod in 2018 and 2019 (6,180). This represents a crime rate increase of 6.1 per cent when regional population growth is taken into ac- ount. Violent crime has re- portedly increased by 16.2 from 1,156 inci- dents in 2018/2019 to 1,343 in When population growth is factored in, this represents a violent crime rate increase of 7.6 pel cent. Police said property crime has gone up 17.2 per ent from 4,035 incidents in 2018/2019 to 4,728 incidents This works out to a property crime rate in- crease of 8.5 per cent when Graham Paine/ Metroland photo illustration Vehicle theft is not just a crime of opportunity, as certain makes and models are targeted by thieves for export. population growth is fac- tored in. JT do believe violent ae have had a number jackings certainly. We’ ve vehad anumber of: rob. beries where firearms ai Present: I believe, and Ive aid this before, a Jot of those particular enim sare street gang related. Crimi, nals coming here from the east of us." Deputy Chief Jeff Hill noted many of the recent shootings in Halton have been related to organized crime. He said Halton police recognize the problem is not going away and dedicated officers to com- bating organized crime both in Halton and ata pro- vincial level. When asked by police board chair Jeff Knoll whether Halton residents should be worried about ‘is increase in crime, Tan- ner moted they should be ont ened say citizens in Halton and everywhere with the trends we've been seeing should be con- cerned," he said. ‘We need our citizens to be cognizant of what's go- ing on. Just because we're saying Halton is the safest large municipality in Can- ada doesn't mean everyone is safe ® every day." called o! dents Mo be on the Tookout for Suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods and noted they can help the sit- ROBBERY, EXTORTION AND OTHER CRIMES ON THE RISE uation by doing things like purchasing anti-theft de- vices for their vehicles. at can also be. a great ‘nel to police investigations when a crime does happen, he said. Tanner said Halton po- lice are working hard to deal with the increase in crime and pointed torecent local successes such as Project Eleanor, which saw the recovery of 32 stolen ve- hicles valued at lion and the arrest ois seven people on numerous charg- ae ject Armadillo, month investigation aap overnight residential break and enters ta high-end vehicles, resulted in two arrests, 40 charges and two firearms recov- ered, Tanner noted. e report also looked at human trafficking, not- ing that so far this year the human trafficking unit has laid 142 charges, which is significantly higher than 82 charges laid by the unit in 2021. Hate crimes were also discussed _ ihe report noting in 2021 thei were 64 eared hate’ bing motivated occurrences in Halton. So far this year there have been 45 of these inci- dents, including 20 in Oak- ben in Burlington, ight i in Ml Milton and four in Halto FP _ eo) a] Se Simple Cremation Package Includes All disbursements & Crematorium Fees - Monthly Payments Starting at *45 CREMATIONHELP.ca ».X. DERMODY by 905-512-5799 « info@cremationhelp.ca tion