LETHBRIDGE BREAK-INS BLAMED ON DRUG USERS

An increase in the number of crack cocaine and methamphetamine users
in Lethbridge is to blame for a spike in property crime in that city
last year.

The Lethbridge Regional Police Service's 2004 annual report shows the
number of break-and-enters reported was up 32 per cent over 2003.

Last year, 838 break-ins were reported, an increase from 635 the year
before.

"The bulk of the individuals that we had spoken to that had committed
those types of crimes had indicated to us that they needed the money
to support drug habits," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Cove.

In the report, released this week, Lethbridge police Chief John
Middleton-Hope said organized criminals are making strong efforts to
gain a foothold in mid-sized centres across the province.

"In response, we have bolstered our resources in our organized crime
section to place even greater pressure on these factions,"
Middleton-Hope said in the report.

Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck said an increase in drug users, who often
commit fraud or theft to fund their habit, is a "major concern" for
the city.

He said the province shot down his proposal to open a treatment centre
for cocaine and methamphetamine users last year.

"I have been trying to persuade the provincial government that they
should put a drug rehabilitation program for our crack abusers in
southern Alberta," said Tarleck.

"To take young offenders out (of Lethbridge) and take them into a
community in Calgary or north of there removes them from their family
and their community and makes rehabilitation that much harder."

Meanwhile, the reporting of crimes against people -- including
robberies, sex crimes, assaults and domestic violence -- dropped in
2004.

"One of the things we're most pleased with is we haven't had a
homicide since May of 2003," said Cove.

The volume of assaults reported last year (697) is almost 13 per cent
lower than for 2003, when 798 assaults were called into the police
department.

Financial and commercial robberies declined by 10 per cent last year.
There were 64 reported robberies in 2004 and 74 the year before.

"I'm happy about that, but at the same time I don't think we can be
complacent," said Tarleck, about the drop in the number of crimes
against people.

Looking to the future, computer-based crimes and money scams are
growing challenges for the department, said Cove.

"We have individuals who are using technology to cover up crimes of
theft and fraud from their employers," he said.

"Those are going to be our biggest challenges in the years to come."