RCMP report decreased crime, increased gang violence

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Local law enforcement is reporting decreases in crime reports but an increase in gang activity.

In a report submitted to the City of Fort St. John council for the November 24th meeting, the Fort St. John RCMP detachment detailed recent crime trends going down in October, with the exception of gang-related conflicts. 

According to the report, a downward trend in theft of vehicles, theft from motor vehicles, break and enter business and residence, and shoplifting reports all saw decreases compared to September. 

According to the RCMP, reports of theft of vehicles under $5,000 dropped from three in September to two in October; theft from motor vehicle over $5,000 decreased from 11 the previous month to six in October; break and enter business and residence both went from six reports in September to two; and shoplifting incidents went from 15 in September to nine in October. 

Despite these decreases, Sergeant Jaime Moffat, the acting officer in charge of the Fort St. John RCMP, explained there was an “uptick” in gang-related conflict in Fort St. John, with three incidents of shots fired, resulting in one person sustaining non-life-threatening injuries and another being arrested. 

Energeticcity.ca also reported on a fourth firearm incident on November 12th.

“As [a] result of the gun violence, several arrests have been made and several investigations are continuing to obtain charge approval,” Moffat said. 

Moffat explained the street enforcement and the uniformed gang enforcement teams have been deployed in the city as of November 1st to investigate and disrupt illegal gun and drug activity, with results expected to be published in the next monthly report to council. 

To read the full RCMP report, see below.