File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

CRIME STATS

Kamloops RCMP 2024 year-end stats show marked decrease to business break-and-enters

Mar 5, 2025 | 4:46 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops’ top cop presented the year-end statistics for the local detachment to city council on Tuesday (March 4), highlighted by decreases in break-and-enter to businesses, crimes against people and traffic violations, but increases in reported files under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act following the re-criminalization of illicit drugs in public spaces.

Just more than 38,500 individual files were reported to Kamloops RCMP in 2024. That includes everything from one murder and two attempted murders, to robberies and 132 sexual assaults.

“We’ve had substantial decrease in crimes against persons, crimes against properties. There has been great success there. That comes in line with our strategic plan with the increase of resources, our Crime Reduction Unit, our Targeted Enforcement Unit, our Street Enforcement Unit and our Traffic Services Unit with a compressive, layered program,” said Kamloops RCMP Commander Supt. Jeff Pelley.

Intimate partner violence is one area the Kamloops detachment saw an increase of files, with more than 1,000 reported last year alone.

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“The charged files is significantly dropped. Is there a reason for that? Am I reading this wrong? I’m not seeing this as a positive. I’m seeing it as a negative, because it looks like stuff is happening out there but it’s not moving to a level where anybody is being held accountable,” asked Councillor Margot Middleton.

“The offenses there could be a lack of cooperation or a lack of evidence of people in these intimate partner violence (cases) and that could have an impact on us getting to the charge. It may not necessarily be with respect to the officers’ investigation or the evidence, but it could be a culmination of factors,” responded Pelley.

Council asked for more clarity on the numbers moving forward, highlighting the work they can do to ensure the city has enough spaces for people fleeing partner violence.

The city also saw a two-fold increase in arson investigations, including the Red Bridgem which remains an open case.

“We had an increase of arsons that we did [see] throughout the area. We have had some great success with [Kamloops Fire Rescue] and our investigative team and, obviously, some arrests were made and one of those individuals remained in custody and has since had a trial as of last week and has been found guilty,” stated Pelley.

Kamloops Mounties have also seen positive outcomes dealing with prolific offenders.

“As of the beginning of the year, six out of 12 of our prolific offenders remain in custody,” highlighted Pelley. “We were able to reduce our business break-and-enter percentages by 42 per cent, which is substantial based on a number of offenders. However, we did see an increase of roughly 41 offenses for break-and-enter to residence.”