RCMP report shows increase in car thefts in November

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – During the final council meeting of the year, the Fort St. John council reviewed the local RCMP detachment’s November report. 

Senior Sergeant Scott Watson, the acting detachment commander of the Fort St. John RCMP detachment, stated in the report that the detachment currently has three hard vacancies. The vacancies stem from the General Investigations Section, Municipal Traffic, and the Street Enforcement Unit. 

Since the detachment’s October report, one of the two expected recruits has arrived, and the second is scheduled to graduate in January. 

The detachment currently also has several soft vacancies, Watson reported. One constable and one watch commander are on long-term sick leave, and a second watch commander has recently returned to work full-time, and is currently completing mandatory training before getting back ‘on the road.’

Another constable at the department is currently on a ‘gradual return to work,’ and will also be back to full work following mandatory training. 

Watson indicated that the city experienced an increase in stolen vehicles, with 17 such incidents reported in November compared to five in October. Additionally,  the detachment saw an increase in break and enters to businesses, with 20 reported in November and only five in October.

“We currently have a suspect in custody that we believe is responsible for a large majority of said property crimes, along with stealing a truck and several ATVs and snowmobiles,” Watson stated in the report.  

Watson explained that a statement will be released ‘once some additional charges’ have been sworn against the individual. 

Incidents of theft from vehicles have been reduced, in part due to increased, targeted enforcement by the Street Enforcement team. Such incidents decreased from 24 incidents in October to 10 in November. 

The detachment has taken several steps to assist with unhoused individuals across the city, including purchasing several Mylar emergency blankets, which were handed out to individuals in need. 

“It was clarified that the Salvation Army does not have a zero tolerance policy for intoxicated subjects, unless causing a disturbance,” Watson said. 

To read the full report, see below.