BURGLARY, ROBBERY STATS ON RISE

Burglaries and robberies are on the rise in the City of Abbotsford,
statistics fuelled by offenders with drug addictions, the Abbotsford Police
Board was told Tuesday.

Police Chief Ian Mackenize had that comment for police board commissioners
as he detailed the force's statistical report for the year to date as of
March - which showed a 121 per cent increase in robberies and a 44 per cent
increase in break and enters over the same period in 2000.

The percentage figures should be taken in context, however, warned the
chief. The numbers show 31 robberies up until March this year, compared to
14 in the same period last year.

Burglaries totalled 429 up until March, compared to 298 in the same period
last year.

The chronic drug problem in the area of Cyril Street near the Salvation
Army Share & Care Centre was also discussed by commissioners. Mayor George
Ferguson said two dilapidated houses on Cyril will be demolished by the
city, in an effort to keep drug addicts from shooting up.

Said the chief: "The robberies are mainly corner store, subway type stores,
committed by people who generally have drug problems and need a fix.

"The same with burglaries - a lot of it relates to drug addiction.''

Ferguson said drugs are prevalent in the Cyril/Old Yale area, and said the
two houses will be torn down. "But if we tear them down, where do they move
to next?," he asked.

Other crime stats on the rise include:

Disturb the peace, up from 12 up until March 2000 to 16 in the same period
this year. The police chief said this can be attributed partly to the
reactivation of the bike squad, and its patrols of the Essendene downtown area.

Possession of offensive weapons: From 24 to 41, again which can be
attributed to the bike squad members searching suspects in related matters
such as disturbing the peace.

Thefts of motor vehicles rose 43 per cent, from 175 from January to March
2000 to 250 in the same period this year.

However, not all crime is showing growth. Statistics indicate impaired
driving charges are down by 11 per cent, 24-hour roadside suspensions are
down by 29 per cent and 26 per cent fewer warning tickets were issued.

Mackenzie said the force's seven traffic members must police an area of 145
square miles. "Every day we have requests to attend locations for traffic
enforcement."