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A Metrolartd Commninty Newspaper Vol 141 Nn5O Tuesdav. Seritember 5.2000 ~I Voiedi#1 40 Pages $ 1.00 (GST included) Crime slightly up, but police say Halton stili one of safest régions BUSA CARTWRIGHT The Champion Despite a slight increase in the level of crime in Halton, the region remains the safest community in Canada with a population of more than 100,000, police say. According 10 the year-to-date figures that ended in July, 2000, crime in Halton is up 1.5 per cent over 1999, said police spokesperson Sgt. Frank Phillips. Last year there were 8,766 criminal offences compared 10 9,200 Ibis year. Statistica show decreases in robberies (20 per cent), auto thefts (21.2 per cent) and break-ina (2.8 per cent). "Crime prevention strategies were used and resulted in a decrease," Sgt. Phillips said. But for the first time in 10 years, data showed a alight increaae in the overail crime rate. Increases occurred in a number of areat including ses offencet (19.7 per cent), offensive weapons (61.4 per cent), domeatic asauit (4.4 percent) and fraud (19.2 per cent). There was alto a rite in property damage (9.5 per cent) and stolen property (l11.7 per cent). "The largeat increase was in relation 10 offensive weapons from 83 t0 134 - up 51 occurrences," taid Sgt. Phillips. The increase was due 10 a backload of cases that originated in 1999, but weren't recorded at the lime. A number of the weapon charges were minor. "Many of these offences, although crimi- nal, are of a minor nature, tuch as a registered firearm owner not notifying a change of addrett." Esch district of Halton police bas a crime ana- lyst officer wbo identifies crime trends and, with a community olficer, develops a stratcgy to target thse identified crimes, Sgt. Phillips said. "The Halton Regional Police Service will con- tinue 10 deploy officers to address areat of increase. This wilI be dons by botb targeted and increased enforcement through the use of crime analysit." TIP F THE MONTH: Fl.iaramalud W thg Muetdilhtbd enthaio i cals, &mad su massg frbllllmsdm iLium uid klrgic reaclam Flau itruultlewait yo pet %b smu a Seuthein On"um beglu whn th weithr geis w. mmd Mss " lie secomi b" r frin Novemsbe. llh peai mule am Anget Seplember md Ocieber. Yet fleai mmy Mv. la mu hems ai yea ruaL New àhuo a Bu. remroi bhe mmd bes cal lers umd sprys paclcdyk obsekte. Cesme id sil a f« e hs msp teodate udmme med"dkam"DON'T WAIT UNUI rýS 1WOLA'I ANONEO RVNIN SWR ON FC M I Comment ........ 6 Community......8 Business........ 14 Datolns ...... 16 Sports ......21-22 Classified ...23-25 *Whit RM o l usns Depo> Mattress Liqukdators Vol 141 No 50 Tuesday. Septernber 5, 2000 i . -Y