MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Police Service’s March crime statistics showed another month of declines in offences against people and property, prompting the acting chief to verify the data twice to confirm the results.
The police service presented last month’s crime stats during the Board of Police Commissioners’ April 8 meeting.
The data showed that, overall, crimes against people have declined 16.9 per cent year-over-year, while crimes against property have declined 42.7 per cent year-over-year. These results continue a downward trend in crime that the police service has been seeing over the past several months and last year.
The data for crimes against the person in March 2025 versus March 2024 showed:
- Homicide: 0 / 0
- Attempted murder: 0 / 1
- Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon, aggravated, against police): 58 / 87
- Robbery: 2 / 4
- Total: 103 / 124
While most assaults decreased, there have been two aggravated assaults year-to-date compared to last year.
Data for crimes against property in March 2025 versus March 2024 showed:
- Break-ins (business, residence, other): 33 / 73
- Theft of motor vehicle: 8 / 15
- Theft over $5,000: 4 / 7
- Theft under $5,000: 106 / 178
- Arson: 2 / 0
- Mischief under $5,000 (property damage): 38 / 60
- Total: 247 / 431
Data for other incidents in March 2025 versus March 2024 showed:
- Impaired driving: 12 / 27
- Failing to comply with court orders: 161 / 144
- Threats: 6 / 4
- Domestic disputes: 9 / 16
- Provincial liquor infractions: 23 / 28
- Vehicle collisions over $1,000: 76 / 93
- Summary offence tickets: 301 / 570
- Automated speed enforcement tickets: 1,766 / 6,376
- Drugs: 2 / 8
Meanwhile, the police service received 4,884 calls for service year-to-date, compared to 4,347 last year, representing an increase of 12.4 per cent.
Acting Chief Rick Johns said the agency reviewed the numbers after it assembled the data, while he had a second employee analyze the figures to ensure they were accurate since they have been trending down for several months, “which is a very good problem to have.”
“Again, it’s cautionary because it’s still early in the year and, as (the) weather tends to improve, our calls for service tend to go up as well … ,” he said. “So, things are tracking well so far.”
Johns highlighted two issues that the police were successful in resolving recently.
“(That) is a precedent because (scams) are very difficult investigations to solve because, if it’s a fraud, it tends to be a faceless offender sometimes operating off of telephones and computers … ,” Johns continued.
“So we were really pleased that we were able to get some relief for victims there.”
The acting chief also highlighted the work with officers resolving the hold-up at the Circle K convenience store on Main Street North, noting police arrested a man for armed robbery, using a firearm and wearing a mask.
Commissioner Patrick Boyle also commended the police for resolving those files, noting residents don’t always see the result of investigations or the behind-the-scenes work.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that calls for service had increased 12.4 per cent, which meant the agency needed enough officers on the streets to handle those calls.
The statistics are a snapshot in time and don’t include every category that the agency tracks, said Johns. That is why officers need to resolve those “social disorders” early so they don’t turn into full-blown crimes.
Commissioner Jamey Logan said property crimes usually decrease during colder weather, while assaults typically increase since people are inside regularly. However, both categories were trending down, so he hoped they stayed that way.
Johns agreed, noting people “disagree with each other” when close by for a long time.
One police commissioner pointed out that there are stories almost everywhere about drug use soaring, but the data showed Moose Jaw’s drug use appeared to be declining, which he found to be curious.
The police service is seeing a decline there, but it will have to review those numbers because most drug-related stats are recorded when officers are proactive and pursue related enforcement projects, said Johns.
The police service added that there was nothing “alarming” with vehicle break-ins during the recent curling tournament, even though some people parked in back alleys and other non-street locations.
The next police board meeting is Wednesday, May 21.
