DRUGS, BREAK-INS WORRY DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS

Drugs and break-and-enters are the highest concerns of residents and
businesses in the downtown core, according to an RCMP survey.

RCMP made a presentation to the Kamloops Downtown Residents' Association
(KDRA) at the Canadian Coast Inn on Thursday. They discussed their survey
and plans for a response strategy.

The survey of 343 residents and businesses in the downtown core was the
first phase of the RCMP's Project Alpha: Working Together with the Community
to Make the Downtown Area a Safer Place.

"We wanted to develop and conduct a survey which would reflect the concerns
of the downtown residents and businesses," said Const. Mike Paris.

Those surveyed were asked to rank their concerns about drugs, prostitution,
theft, violence and break-and-enters. A scale of one-to-five was used, with
five being the most serious.

Drugs were the highest concern, with 75 respondents indicating so on the
survey. Break-and-enters were marked by 69 respondents. Thefts and
prostitution were ranked third and fourth, with 60 and 44 respondents.
Violence and less serious crimes ranked lower in the survey.

RCMP also discussed crime statistics for 2000. They compared the downtown
core to Kamloops as a whole. Of 1,619 violent offences in Kamloops, 424 were
committed in the downtown core.

Of 27 thefts over $5,000 in Kamloops, three were in the downtown core. There
were 1,200 thefts under $5,000, of which 329 were in the downtown core.

Kamloops also had 403 car and truck thefts, 107 of which were in the
downtown core. In addition, Kamloops had 1,812 thefts from motor vehicles,
628 of which were in the downtown core.

Finally, of 956 break-and-enters committed against businesses and residences
in Kamloops, 185 were committed in the downtown core.

Sgt. Randy Brown said crime is a problem in the downtown core, but it is
still a safe area.

"I've only been here eight months, but I appreciate the quality of life this
town has to offer," Brown said.