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Vancouver crime down in 2017

File photo Vancouver Police Department released it statistics for 2017 Thursday and the overall crime rate is down in the city. The overall crime rate was down by 1.

 File photoFile photo

Vancouver Police Department released it statistics for 2017 Thursday and the overall crime rate is down in the city.

The overall crime rate was down by 1.5 per cent over 2016 with decreases in most types of property crime, however thefts from motor vehicles were up by 1.6 per cent last year.

“Theft from motor vehicles continues to be an issue in Vancouver, especially downtown,” department spokesperson Const. Jason Doucette said in a press release.

“While we’ll continue to target offenders, drivers can help by simply not leaving anything visible in their vehicles. If thieves can see it, they’re more likely to steal it.”

Overall property crime was down by almost two per cent last year over 2016, ending five consecutive years of increases. Break-ins, to both businesses and residences, saw a significant decrease in 2017 down by almost 18 per cent over the previous year.

As for violent crime, the overall rate was up 1.9 per cent over 2016, however, Doucette said, the 10-year trend shows an overall decrease.

Homicides were up from 12 in 2016 to 19 in 2017, and shots-fired incidents increased to 31 in 2017 — there were 26 incidents of shots fired in 2016. Bank robberies were down from 68 in 2016 to 52 in 2017, but sexual offenses were up by two per cent.

Mental health apprehensions, under the Mental Health Act, dropped to 2,790 in 2017 from 2,822 the previous year.

“We continue to work alongside health professionals in integrated teams, like the Assertive Community Treatment Team and the Assertive outreach Team, to connect people with resources,” Doucette said. “Further, through Car 87 — which pairs a psychiatric nurse with a police officer — we are able to effectively respond to crisis situations. We’re committed to providing people living with mental illness the help that they need.”

Fatal motor vehicle collisions were also down last year from 15 in 2016 to 13 in 2017.

See the full report HERE.

@JessicaEKerr

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