While the number of calls for property crime is up so far this year compared to 2022, other calls are seeing a drop, including violent crime, according to newly released police data.
At the last Timmins Police Service board meeting, members received an update on crime stats in areas including violent crime, property crime, drugs and social disorder. The calls for service are for January to April this year and show what the numbers were for during the same period in 2022.
Police Chief Dan Foy said the reports provide insight into its operations. They will be brought to the police services board monthly.
“This gives us the data that we’ve been looking for to have a good overview of what’s happening in our city,” said Foy.
Every month, Timmins Police is receiving about 2,000 calls for service, according to the data.
Calls about property crime are up 18.18 per cent so far this year. January had the highest year-over-year increase, going from 163 calls in 2022 to 266 calls in 2023. In total in 2022, there were 2,587 calls, which was a 16.5 per cent increase over 2021.
Social disorder calls are up 11.1 per cent for the first four months of the year. During those months, 2,749 calls were received in 2023 compared to 2,571 calls in 2022. In total in 2022, there were 8,649 calls for service, which was a 7.6 per cent increase from 2021.
Violent crime calls are down. There were 299 calls in 2023 compared to 340 calls in 2022. That represents a 12 per cent decrease for that period. Overall in 2022, there were 997 calls for service — a 4.5 per cent decrease compared to 2021.
Drug-related calls are down 17.6 per cent, from 34 calls in 2022 to 28 in 2023.
Traffic calls are down .24 per cent, with 1,239 calls in 2022 and 1,236 calls in 2023.
The number of other calls is up 13.24 per cent, from 3,187 in 2022 to 3,609 calls in 2023. Foy said calls in that area are "a large number of occurrences that don’t necessarily fall into the main categories."
The breakdown of calls for the first four months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2023 is:
Violent Crime
- Assault - Down 5.2 per cent, from 192 calls in 2022 to 182 calls in 2023.
- Attempt murder - Down 100 per cent, from 1 call to zero.
- Homicide - No homicide calls were received.
- Robbery - Down 37.5 per cent, from 8 calls to 5.
- Sexual Assault - Down 36.9 per cent, from 46 calls to 29.
- Threats - Down 32.9 per cent, from 79 calls to 53.
- Weapons - Up 92.85 per cent, from 14 calls to 27.
Property Crime
- Arson - Up 16.6 per cent, from 6 calls to 7 calls.
- Break and enter - Up 36.45 per cent, from 96 calls to 131.
- Fraud - Down 15 per cent, from 106 calls to 90.
- Mischief - Up 44.4 per cent, from 81 calls to 117
- Possess stolen property - Up 50 per cent, from 4 calls to 6.
- Property damage - Down 50 per cent, from 4 calls to 2.
- Shoplift - Up 6 per cent, from 182 calls to 193.
- Stolen vehicle - Up 37.5 per cent, from 8 calls to 11.
- Theft - Up 63.5 per cent, from 128 calls to 208.
- Theft from vehicle - Down 16.27 per cent, from 86 calls to 72.
Social Disorder
- Ambulance assistance - Down 25.3 per cent, from 138 calls in 2022 to 103 calls in 2023.
- Attempt/threat suicide - Down 1.16 per cent, from 86 calls to 85 calls.
- Bar check - Up from no calls in 2022 to two calls in 2023.
- Disturb the peace - Up 3.57 per cent, from 56 calls to 58.
- Domestic dispute - Down 28 per cent, from 275 calls to 198
- Family dispute - Down 7 per cent, from 99 calls to 92.
- Harassment - Down 25 per cent, from 48 calls to 36.
- Liquor licence act - Down 12 per cent, from 58 calls to 51.
- Mental health act - Down 22.16 per cent, from 203 calls to 158.
- Missing person - Up from one call in 2022 to 19.
- Neighbour dispute - Down 22.2 per cent, from 81 calls to 63.
- Noise complaint - Up 7.9 per cent, from 214 calls to 231.
- Prevent breach/peace - Up 44.44 per cent, from 9 calls to 13.
- Suspicious person - Up 18 per cent, from 417 calls to 496
- Suspicious vehicle - Up 9.95 per cent, from 231 calls to 254.
- Trouble with youth - Down 33.33 per cent, from 18 calls to 12.
- Unwanted person - Up 36.4 per cent, from 637 calls to 888.
The data reflects the calls for service and not charges laid by police. The detailed monthly break-downs are available online here.
