Commercial break-in calls have jumped in Burnaby and the local RCMP detachment has responded.
There has been an increase in foot patrols, but the Burnaby RCMP bike team has also stepped up patrols in areas that have been relatively empty due to the pandemic as people stay home.
Crime analysts at the detachment have reviewed statistics from mid-March to mid-April, focusing on crimes such as break-ins at homes and businesses and calls related to domestic violence, according to a news release.
“This timeframe was chosen as it falls into the period when public health orders came into effect, and, while it is too short of a timeline to accurately determine any trends, we have noted both increases and decreases in these files,” states the release. All of the data is based on crimes reported, not investigative outcomes or charges, so police say the number are subject to change as investigations continue.
Commercial break-in calls have seen the most dramatic increase, nearly doubling since the same time period last year from 62 to 122, according to the release, but police say that jump isn’t necessarily due to the pandemic since such calls have been going up since last October.
In recent weeks, however, the release says Burnaby RCMP’s community response team, bike unit, frontline and prolific offender suppression team have conducted regular patrols of businesses to ensure they are secure and that anyone looking to take advantage of closed businesses is stopped.
- With files from Cornelia Naylor
