Major crime decreases in Wood Buffalo in 2009

(Fort McMurray, AB – April 13, 2010) – Crime statistics in Wood Buffalo dropped significantly in 2009, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced today.

Year-to-date crime statistics for Wood Buffalo saw an 18 percent drop in overall crime in the urban service area from 2008 to 2009. Rural areas saw an 11 percent drop in total crime. Quarter four results show that between October and December 2009 in the urban service area, crime was down 22 percent in the urban area and down 19 percent in rural Wood Buffalo.

“The Municipality is very pleased with the work of the Wood Buffalo RCMP Detachment,” said Mayor Melissa Blake. “This drastic drop in crime dispels many myths about Wood Buffalo and once again shows that we are a community that people can be proud to call home.”

This decrease in crime from 2008 to 2009 is largely attributed to the hard work of general duty members. It is also due to newer crime prevention initiatives in 2009 such as the Bait Vehicle Program and the introduction of the Crime Reduction Team.

“The commitment by the officers serving Wood Buffalo is 100 percent,” said Supt. Kirke Hopkins, Officer in Charge of the Wood Buffalo Detachment. “The Wood Buffalo RCMP is always thriving to do better as that is the nature of police work.”

One of the most significant drops in crime was in the lower townsite of Fort McMurray. The downtown core saw a 25 percent decrease in crime from 2008 to 2009. Statistics within the downtown core also show a significant 20 percent decrease in person crime offences and a 30 percent decrease in property crime offences. These offences include homicides, aggravated assaults, break and enters, robberies, and vehicle thefts.

To see the reports detailing the statistics please visit http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/rcmp/html/detachment/statistics.htm.

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