Thefts through the first nine months of the year in Swift Current have nearly doubled compared to last year.

The Swift Current City RCMP has received 194 reports of theft under $5,000 through September, well above the 100 from the same timeframe in 2021.

Ninety-five of the reports this year poured into the police between the beginning of July and the end of September. 

Swift Current City RCMP Staff Sergeant Evan Gordon said a sizeable amount of thefts recently are what he described as crimes of opportunity such as unlocked vehicles and keys left in vehicles.

"If we have one or two people familiar with that style of crime and for whatever reason, they decided that's something they're going to resort to again, it can really balloon the numbers," he said.

The City RCMP recovered a significant amount of stolen property in the summer, which led them to make a public plea to report every theft in an attempt to reacquaint the items with their proper owners. This created an influx of minor thefts reported. 

"What we saw there was, not necessarily an increase in the number of thefts that had happened but an increase in the thefts that were reported," he said. "Those are thefts that may have, and likely did go unreported in previous quarters or previous years."

Over half of the thefts under $5,000 stem from unlocked vehicles and shoplifting, with the latter potentially being linked to the staggering jump in inflation. The more common thefts from Swift Current-based businesses include fuel, alcohol, and tools.

"I would say the tools probably form the more expensive portion of the items that are stolen," he said. "It's something that can be turned around and sold fairly easily or at least the thieves think they can sell these things fairly easily."

According to Saskatchewan RCMP's F Division, fuel thefts across the province spiked by 76 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

On the more expensive side of things, thefts over $5,000 are also up 68 per cent compared to last year's stats. The City RCMP had 13 files come in during the third quarter bringing this year's total to 27, well ahead of the 16 in 2021. Around 70 per cent of the more costly heists are vehicles. 

Below 50 per cent of thefts in Swift Current are solved, however, the public can play a big part in aiding the City RCMP which have had to deal with over 200 different theft documents this year.

"Things that can help us to have a higher likelihood of solving those thefts are recording serial numbers for valuable property, making and recording identifying markings on that property, and having good quality video footage," he said. "Investing in loss prevention equipment and strategies, not only in businesses but also at home. The more information we have to identify someone... the more likely we will be able to solve that crime."  

"Even though we may not be able to solve every one or solve them right away, having all those reports helps us form a clearer picture of where and when the crimes are happening. It can help us focus on specific projects and initiatives in those areas."

Other ways the public can help protect their belongings are locking vehicles/buildings/homes, keeping valuables in vehicles/yards out of sight, not leaving keys in vehicles, and reporting all thefts even minor ones to the police.