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Overall crime up, but violent crime down in Lethbridge

Jul 24, 2017 | 10:23 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Crime appears to be on the rise in Lethbridge. But the good news is, violent crime is down.

The Crime Severity Index (CSI) for the Lethbridge Police Service for 2016, released by Statistics Canada, was 121.56, an increase of more than 7.5 per cent from 2015. However, the Violent Crime Severity Index actually decreased more than 16 per cent to 87.24.

The Non-violent CSI was 133.80, up more than 15 per cent.

The increase was instead represented in property crime categories, which were up overall by 16 per cent. 

The total number of violations reported to Lethbridge Police was 10,959, up from 10,770. The rate per 100,000 population increased 9.43 per cent. But the rate of violent Criminal Code offences was down 14 per cent.

The increase was instead represented in property crime categories, which were up overall by 16 per cent. Break-and-enters were up 12 per cent after a 45 per cent increase the year before. Vehicle thefts were up more than 24 per cent. Thefts under $5,000 were up 12 per cent.

The rate of reported fraud cases was up 39 per cent, with 636 incidents reported.

The rate of drug violations was down 20 per cent. There was a 37 per cent decrease in cannabis possession, while cocaine possession was down 41 per cent. But possession of other controlled substances was up 63 per cent.

Of the nearly 11,000 crimes reported, approximately 5,900 are considered “cleared”, with charges resulting in around 5,000 of those cases.

The Crime Severity Index assigns weights to different crimes, as opposed to the overall crime rate. Both are based on crimes reported to police.