Fort St. John shoplifting reports spike during 2024

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The local RCMP detachment is reporting a decrease in calls for law enforcement and an increase in shoplifting cases in its annual report. 

During the July 14th committee of the whole meeting, the detachment presented its annual report for 2024. 

Acting officer in charge, Sergeant Jaime Moffat and staff Sergeant Scott Watson spoke with councillors regarding the report, which focuses on calls to service and RCMP activity between January 1st and December 31st, 2024. 

The Fort St. John RCMP saw a significant increase in shoplifting cases, with 324 cases in 2024 and 198 cases in 2023. 

Criminal statistics for the year across most categories are down when compared to 2023, with the exception of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle or flight from police; 97 incidents in 2024 compared to 68 in 2023; fatal motor vehicle incidents, seven in 2024 compared to five in 2023; and robberies within the city limits, 26 in 2024 up from 20 in 2023. 

Following the report presentation, Moffat explained that halfway through 2025 crime trends are remaining consistent with 2024, with property crime such as shoplifting and theft from vehicles higher than other categories. 

“It’s problematic, and I think it’s going to stay consistent until we can figure out a plan,” Moffat said.  

The detachment reported 11,729 calls for service throughout the year, with 9,163 originating from within the city and 2,566 from the rural area outside the city limits. 

Calls for service to specific facilities and spaces in the city were mixed compared to statistics from 2023. RCMP were called to the North Peace Leisure Pool, North Peace Recreational Centre and Kids Arena Fieldhouse the exact same number of times compared to 2023, with 27, three and six calls respectively. 

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the Fort St. John RCMP to clarify the difference between the North Peace Leisure Pool and the North Peace Recreational Centre but did not hear back before publication. 

Requests for RCMP presence in 2024 decreased compared to 2023 at the Pomeroy Sport Centre and North Peace Cultural Centre, with 23 and 29 calls respectively. In 2023, RCMP were called to the Pomeroy Sport Centre 31 times and the North Peace Cultural Centre 38 times. 

Calls for RCMP to attend the Rotary Skate Park and 100th Avenue and 100th Street greenspace lot increased compared to 2023’s statistics, 14 and 29 respectively, up from 10 and 12 in 2023. 

Under the controlled drug and substances category, the Fort St. John RCMP detachment saw 15 cocaine possessions, the same number as in 2023; seven instances of fentanyl or other drug trafficking, down from 10 in 2023; and 55 instances of cocaine trafficking, down from 68 in 2023. 

The detachment also attended 22 drug overdose calls, down from 29 in 2023, and 14 fatal overdoses, also down from 23 in 2023. 

Moffat also explained the statistics surrounding overdose calls were not accurate, as when an individual calls 9-1-1 to report an overdose, RCMP do not automatically respond. 

“These numbers just record [the reports] we’ve attended,” Moffat told council. 

“There [is] no longer a requirement [to involve RCMP in overdose calls] because people weren’t calling for help if they knew the police were going to show up.”

Moffat explained the detachment was currently short nine officers, with four soft vacancies,  meaning the officer is currently not on duty but will be returning, and five hard vacancies, meaning the detachment is waiting for replacements to fill the positions.