PROPERTY THEFT FALLING

Latest Surrey Crime Stats Show Trend Continues

Second-quarter Surrey crime statistics show another drop in the number
of thefts from homes, cars and businesses in the city, down seven per
cent compared to the same April-to-July period the previous year.

Overall, business break-and-enters were down 31 per cent, residential
break-ins were down six per cent, car thefts were down 27 per cent and
theft over $5,000 was down 33 per cent.

However, drug offences were up by 13 per cent, while violent crime was
up by three per cent.

Whalley had the highest crime rate per capita in the city during that
period at 5,063 incidents per 83,000 people -- or one Criminal Code
offence reported for every 16 residents.

About half of all Surrey drug offences occur in Whalley, which
recorded a 34 per cent increase in cocaine possession and a 54 per
cent increase in the number of marijuana production charges.

Most cocaine possession arrests are made in Whalley, which recorded 72
per cent of all such charges in the second quarter of 2006 -- 270 of
377 in all of Surrey.

Newton was second overall with 4,594 Criminal Code incidents per
101,000 or one crime for every 22 residents.

Guildford-Fleetwood was third with 3,419 per 101,000 or one crime for
every 30 residents.

Guildford had more marijuana grow-up busts than any other area of the
city at 74, about a third of all marijuana production charges in the
city.

South Surrey had the lowest crime rate, at one Criminal Code incident
for every 42 residents.

Surrey's overall crime rate is one incident for every 24
residents.

The biggest percentage drop in property crime was recorded in RCMP
District 1, Whalley-City Centre, which saw 64 per cent fewer business
break-ins and 42 per cent fewer residential break-ins.

There were also 36 per cent fewer vehicle thefts in the
district.

The full report is at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/bc/lmd/surrey/content/home/index_e.htm.