Cold Lake crime stats see more calls, increases in property crime

The Cold Lake RCMP Detachment (Municipal) saw a 15 per cent increase in Criminal Code offences, with the increase being in property crime, persons crime and other Criminal Code offences. 

The Cold Lake Detachment Annual Report for Municipal and Provincial 2022 was presented to council on April 11 with a breakdown of crime statistics from the past year. 

Municipal property crime had an overall 18 per cent increase in total and a 19 per cent increase with 208 break and entering cases, 33 more cases from the previous year. 

There was a 35 per cent increase with 531 cases of theft under $5,000, 139 more cases from the previous year, and a three per cent decrease with 169 motor vehicle thefts, five fewer cases then the 2021 numbers. 

There were 11,410 calls for service compared to the 10,748 calls in 2021. Calls for service include calls from the public as well as self-generated and proactive files.

The City of Cold Lake was where most of the calls for services took place with 70 per cent, 16 per cent from the MD of Bonnyville, 11 per cent from the Cold Lake First Nations, and three per cent from the Elizabeth Settlement. 

Cold Lake detachment’s Municipal calls for service for 2022 were 7558, a 12.4 per cent increase compared to last year. 

While their Provincial calls for service for 2022 were 3852, a 4.3 per cent decrease compared to last year.

The three-member Lakeland Crime Reduction Unit has made 133 arrests, laid 315 charges, executed 70 arrest warrants, recovered approximately $2.8 million in vehicles and other stolen property as well as written and executed eight search warrants.

The total 2022 prisoner count for Cold Lake was 1092 compared to 1076 in 2021. 

For Cold Lake Victim Services in 2022 they had 107 Provincial Court-related cases. 

Victim Services recorded 1,170 residents served in Cold Lake. 

A number of files were presented for last year, sexual assault – 69, threats and harassment – 70, sudden death – 73, theft and fraud – 120, robbery – 21, assaults – 120, and domestic and family violence – 531. 

In addition from 2015-2021, there is a total of 1,704 current active files.