Crime continues to be on the decline in the Drayton Valley RCMP detachment’s region.
Drayton Valley RCMP Staff Sergeant Erin Matthews paid a visit to the Drayton Valley town council meeting on Nov. 3 to deliver the monthly crime statistics.
From Jan. thru Sept. 2021, there has been a 28 per cent decrease in crime, when compared to the same time in 2020.
One aspect where crime has gone up, however, has been persons crimes. Local Mounties have seen a six per cent increase from January through September, which Matthews attributes to the rise of the pandemic, noting it is not unique though to the Drayton Valley region.
“It is definitely a major issue in the community, and not just this community, but the entire province,” says Matthews.
When council pressed Matthews as to why crime on the whole has gone down this year, Matthews credits several factors.
One is the public getting smarter at protecting their valuables, and another is at the diligence of her members.
But, with winter on the horizon, Matthews predicts an increase in property crime, particularly in motor vehicle thefts.
“People are going to start warming up their vehicles, and leave their keys in them, and it is a major opportunity for these individuals to jump in and take off,” warns Matthews.
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