Crime rates are down across Langley City and Township, according to Langley RCMP’s most recent quarterly update.
“For the most part, this is a very positive report,” Langley RCMP Supt. Derek Cooke told Langley City Council on Monday evening.
While outlook at the beginning of the year wasn’t as promising, Cooke told council that year-to-date statistics for 2013 show “significant decreases” compared with the same time period in 2012.
According to Cooke, auto theft in the area is down a “whopping” 27 per cent compared with last year, person offences — such as assault, homicide or sexual offences — have dropped 16 per cent and arson rates have also fallen by 25 per cent.
Although crime numbers are down overall, instances of fraud have risen 32 per cent, a statistic that Cooke calls “troubling,” pointing to a significant number of mail thefts that have led to more stolen cheques, credit cards and identity theft.