POLICE STILL TARGETING DRUG HOUSES

Auto crime was still dropping in March as police turned their
attention to drug houses, RCMP crime statistics show.

Police responded to 1,657 incidents of property crime last month, down
from 2,115 incidents in the same period last year.

RCMP Cpl. Mike Stewart said Wednesday the decline was due to fewer
thefts of and from vehicles.

"Other Criminal Code offences, including counterfeiting, are up," he
said. "But property crime is down and those were two big things that
were affecting our property crime numbers."

More than 160 counterfeiting incidents have been reported to police so
far this year.

Police recorded 294 drug-related offences last month compared to 203
at the same time last year.

"Drug offences are up because of the actions of our drug squad and
general duty members. We're getting out there and getting the drug
people off the street."