The Moose Jaw Police Service’s statistical extract for March was provided at Wednesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting. 

The extract noted a 68.8 per cent increase in the category “other break and enter”.  

Acting Superintendent Taylor Elder explained the increase, saying police saw a rash of break and enters to garden sheds.  

Commissioner and Chair Crystal Froese said she wanted to clarify that the increase was from 16 year-to-date cases in March 2023, versus 27 cases year-to-date for March 2024.  

“I don’t want to make it sound like there’s hundreds and hundreds of these going on in a month,” said Froese.  

There was a 20 per cent increase in break-and-enters to business premises, with a year-to-date total of 18 compared to 15 by the end of March last year.  

Total crimes against property were down 22.1 per cent year-to-date compared to 2023. Thefts under $5000 saw a 30.8 per cent decline, with 157 offences recorded so far this year compared to 227 by March last year. Thefts over $5000 have also gone down, seeing 44.4 per cent decrease compared to March 2023, with 5 cases reported so far in 2024.  

Total crimes against the person were down 23.1 per cent. Under total crimes against the person, a 37.5 per cent increase was recorded for sexual assaults. By March 2023 police had seen 16 sexual assaults, and that number this year is 22.  

Failures to comply with court orders have gone up 137.9 per cent, with 245 cases by the end of this March compared to 103 cases by last March. Acting Superintendent Taylor Elder attributed that to proactive work by officers who are checking to ensure that people are abiding by certain conditions.  

Automated Speed Enforcement offenses were up 122.5 per cent year-to-date compared to 2023, with 3453 infractions recorded so far this year.  

Police Chief Rick Bourassa attributed this in large part to the speed cameras along the Trans-Canada Highway and 9th Avenue NW. He added that despite the increase in speeding tickets that would suggest people aren’t heeding the cameras, they have not seen a serious fatal collision.  

“I think what we’re seeing is the speeds are maybe a little over, and we’re not seeing the really high ones that would cause someone turning left in front of a vehicle that they think is coming at 80 [km/h] and it’s coming at 120 [km/h],” said Bourassa.  

Motor vehicle accidents over $1000 are up 63 per cent compared to that number by March 2023, going from 54 cases by March 2023 to 88 cases by March 2024.  

“What we found is it takes very little damage now to be an expensive repair. With all the sensors and everything – bumpers and things, all it takes is a tap sometimes,” explained Bourassa.