(File photo)

Lyonel Doherty

Aberdeen Publishing

The towns of Osoyoos and Oliver are enjoying a reduction in police calls for service and a decrease in most crime compared to last year’s first quarter.

RCMP Sgt. Jason Bayda from the Osoyoos detachment said Oliver has seen an eight per cent reduction in calls for service, while Osoyoos has seen a 16 per cent reduction.

“Subsequently both towns have seen a decrease in most crime over the same period (comparing the first quarters of 2019 and 2020).”

Bayda said the largest increase for both towns is mischief (loss of enjoyment of property).

He clarified this is different than mischief that includes property damage. For example, it would capture events such as neighbour disputes or other incidents where a person feels they cannot enjoy their property unfettered.

In Oliver, mischief increased 83 per cent (from six incidents in the first quarter of 2019 to 11 in the first quarter of 2020).

In Osoyoos, mischief jumped from three incidents to six.

Bayda said Osoyoos saw a slight increase in business break and enters with four more over the same time last year. There were 14 in the first quarter of this year compared to 10 in the same period last year.

“A better part of these were into fenced properties and unoccupied buildings that were either vacant or under construction,” Bayda said.

The commander noted that both Oliver and Osoyoos saw an increase in cause disturbance which are events that typically result from a person being found in public while intoxicated. In Oliver, these incidents jumped from 16 to 23 (up 44 per cent). But in Osoyoos the jump was only 11 per cent (from nine incidents to 10).

In Oliver, business break-ins decreased 40 per cent (from 15 to nine), while domestic violence increased 44 per cent (from nine incidents to 13). Violent crime went down 13 per cent (from 84 to 73).

In Osoyoos, auto theft went down 45 per cent, from 11 incidents in Q1 2019 to six in Q1 2020.

Domestic violence in Osoyoos decreased 50 per cent from four incidents to two.

Property crime went down 17 per cent (from 101 incidents to 84).

Mental health incidents in both communities stayed relatively the same – from 22 to 18 in Oliver and from 12 to 10 in Osoyoos.

The top call for service in Oliver was assist police, fire or ambulance (total of 86 calls). The top call in Osoyoos was abandoned 9-1-1 (31 calls).

Bayda said there are steps people can take to help reduce being a victim of crime. This includes removing tools from construction sites after each shift, removing valuables from vehicles and locking your doors.

“There are a number of repeat offenders in the South Okanagan that continue to commit crimes of opportunity,” Bayda noted. “By locking your doors and securing your valuables out of sight you take these easy opportunities away from them.”

He encouraged people to call the RCMP if they see anything suspicious or untoward.