With a population hovering under 5,000, it doesn’t take many broken laws to significantly skew Oliver’s crime statistics.
After 19 reports of fraud this year, compared to just five this time last year, there’s been a 280 per cent spike over the first half of 2016.
But in their publication of second quarter crime states last week, the local RCMP detachment made note of large increases of break and enters in rural Oliver, due partially to break-ins at the Oliver Landfill. A local man, 38-year-old Brian Barata, has been charged for stealing from the landfill.
Sergeant Blaine Gervais confirmed that the increase in rural break-ins is a result of a few people targeting the landfill site, stealing old batteries and copper pipe.
“Half of the rural break-ins could be associated to this one location, actually putting us at less rural break-ins for the quarter.”
As for the increase in fraud, those incidents are up across the entire region, Gervais pointed out.
Reports of causing a disturbance rose 77 per cent from 22 to 39; arson and sex offences are both up to three from one last year; assaults are down nearly 50 per cent from 38 to 21; thefts are down across the board; business break and enters saw a 64 per cent spike, but a 63 per cent decrease in residential break-ins; drug possession is up 20 counts from 14; one count of drug trafficking was reported both years; and weapons offences are up 50 per cent.
The following are statistics for Osoyoos First Nations: Assaults are down 50 per cent from four to two; vehicle theft has doubled from one to two; mischief is up 150 percent from two reports to five; no frauds have been reported this year, down from one last year; and drug possession was reduced from three reports to zero. Theft is up from one report last year to eight overall; there has been one sex offence this year, up from none last year; and reports of weapon offences remained the same at one.
Area C director Terry Schafer said fraud, especially phone scams, have become an everyday occurrence as well as vehicle thefts and break-ins.
“The police think that drug dependency drives much of it and I have little reason to disagree.”
Schafer said there has been talk about getting better results in battling local crime by having a municipal or regional police force.
“As a regional politician I would be willing to look at such a model for discussion at least.”
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said it was nice to see some statistics go down.
“I am still looking forward to the proposed two new officers for our detachment. We will also keep up to date on rural and urban requests once the correction facility opens.”
The mayor said the province has offered assurances that any increase in rural policing needs will be under the provincial rural cost share program.
DAN WALTON
Oliver Chronicle
