The policies and priorities committee heard a delegation from the Olds RCMP on April 11, who reported that most crimes had declined during 2015.
"All in all, 2015 for Olds, Alberta has been not only a good year, but a great year in terms of policing in town. Overall, our numbers are down besides thefts of motor vehicles and theft from vehicles," said Cpl. Mike Black.
The delegation attributed the rise in vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles to a "lack of target hardening."
"Target hardening is kind of the general theme we're trying to promote. Making your property or business or vehicle less likely of a target for somebody to steal or break into," Black said.
He also said property crimes have been cyclical, committed by a select group.
"The guys get out of jail, they commit these crimes, we're able to focus on them, put them back into jail and the crimes drastically reduce until the next cycle starts where they get out of jail," he said.
The Top 10 files in 2015 were also minor in nature, the committee heard.
Those included: traffic collision, false alarms, mischief, Liquor Act violations, suspicious person or vehicles, municipal bylaws, theft under $5,000, moving violations, assistance to the general public and disturbing the peace.
"The guys get out of jail, they commit these crimes, we're able to focus on them, put them back into jail and the crimes drastically reduce until the next cycle starts where they get out of jail." CPL. MIKE BLACK OLDS RCMP
