Regina auto thefts up 47% this year
Assaults in the January-to-March period up by 40%
The latest crime statistics for Regina show dramatic increases in auto thefts, other property crimes and assaults.
"Many times it's got a relationship to drugs, a relationship to violence and gangs, often firearms are involved," Police Chief Evan Bray said.
"That really is driving our crime stats."
The overall increase for crimes against the person (assaults, murders etc.) and property crimes (thefts, fraud etc.) is 12 per cent, when the first three months of 2018 are compared with the same period last year.
That hasn't always been the case, but it is the case now.- Chief Evan Bray, Regina Police
The number of stolen vehicles has risen by 47 per cent.
Bray said the nature of car thefts is changing. Years ago, such crimes were typically youths out joyriding, but now there are more serious issues.
"It's rare for us to find, recover a stolen car ... it's rare for us not to find either drugs or weapons in that car," Bray said.
"That hasn't always been the case, but it is the case now."
Assaults see bigs jump
Assaults in the January-to-March period are up by 40 per cent.
The report was released Wednesday at the Regina Board of Police Commissioners meeting.