According to statistics, crime was up in the Emerson and Morris area in the months of July and August compared to the same time last year.

Sergeant Shelley Lepla is the RCMP Detachment Commander for Morris and Emerson. She noted that most crimes had increased in the area, aside from impaired driving, which remained about the same.

"Property crime stats have gone up in those two months," she said.

Theft under $5,000 saw 26 incidents compared to 6 during July and August last year. For mischief, there were 26 incidents reported compared to 11 last year. As for theft over $5,000, there were 8 incidents compared to 2 in 2016. Crimes against persons have also increased in 2017.

Lepla noted the communities are particularity concerned about the spike in break and enters to vehicles and the theft of vehicles.

"Basically our investigation has shown that there are approximately 6 female youths that were involved with a lot of these thefts, several of them have been charged in connection with that," she said.

Lepla added these youth are from the surrounding area within in the jurisdiction, and police have worked with parents to make sure these individuals are not out after curfew hours.

The RCMP wants to remind people to lock their vehicles and take out valuables, as well as report suspicious activity. She noted that garage openers in vehicles could give thieves access to your house.

"All of the vehicles that have been broken into, except for one, were unlocked, the keys are left inside the vehicle, and including some valuables," said Lepla.

She also said there are individuals from Winnipeg who were responsible for the break and enters into homes and vehicle thefts. She noted that submitting video surveillance can be very helpful in identifying suspects.
 
"A lot of the people in the community have video surveillance... in their house or outside their house," she said. "We know some of these individuals, we have charged (them) in the past. So if they're not wearing any disguises we do know who they are, so it assists us in... IDing these people."

Sgt. Lepla also said the detachment will be back to full staff once a new recruit starts in November.