A mixed bag in terms of crime in the Kenora area so far in 2024.
The number of thefts has dropped compared to the last two years.
Staff Sergeant Jim Neild believes that’s in part due to an increase of foot patrols in the down area.
“You’ll see thefts under ($5,000) are down, which I think is really good, which means we’re having an effect,” Neild told the Kenora OPP Board at their first ever meeting last month.
There is a 30.6 percent decrease in Thefts under $5,000 and 53.3 percent decrease in Thefts over $5,000.
“I personally would like to relate that directly to the foot patrols we’re doing downtown, because a lot of the thefts under were coming from shoplifting incidents that were occurring downtown. We’re there and maybe we’re deterring that.”
Neild points out there’s a less than one percent increase (0.3 percent increase) in assaults and other violent offenses.
“There are a lot of downward trends in a lot of areas. There are some areas there are upticks. So, the assaults for this year are up, but then you look at other violent offenses…they are down.”
There has been 276 assaults or firearm related incidents so far this year, which is up 6.6 percent from the year before.
But the number of sexual assaults is down 13 percent, and there is an 11 percent drop in other offenses involving violence or the threat of violence.
(File photo)
