Penticton RCMP Inspector Brad Haugli made his final presentation of quarterly statistics to the regional district board on March 7.
The region’s top cop has been reassigned after four years in the Penticton detachment. Haugli also had a previous stint in Penticton in the 1990s.
“I’m happy to be able to report that crime is being reduced in the regional district,” Haugli told the board last Thursday, noting a “significant decrease” in crime in the area, except for the Oliver, Osoyoos and Summerland areas.
Haugli cited a 14.8 per cent reduction in overall crime in the regional district, with crime stats in the Keremeos detachment area showing a 27.2 per cent reduction between 2008 and 2012. Keremeos crime rates were down by 38 per cent when compared on an annual basis, between 2011 and 2012.
An additional surprise will be waiting for thieves bent on stealing bait cars in the area, as police add “bait items” to the vehicles. The items will be tagged with GPS tracking devices so police will be able to follow the perpetrators to their homes.
“Are we catching the bad guys?” was one question posed by the directors after Haugli’s report.
“Yes, we are,” he answered, noting that the Penticton detachment now used crime analysts to define crime “hot spots” and track prolific offenders.