Overall crime in Chatham-Kent was up 12 per cent last year compared to the previous year.
Chatham-Kent police presented their annual report on Tuesday and it showed that the number of reported crimes went from 4,781 in 2019 to 5,356 last year. Theft, arson, and break-ins at businesses saw the highest increases in 2020. There was also one murder last year, compared to zero in 2019. There were no attempted murders in 2020, down from four in 2019. Aggravated assault, disturbances, and crime involving weapons and drugs also had some of the highest increases from 2019 to 2020.
Police said the 67 per cent increase in business break and enters was due to a small local group of criminals. Residential break and enters stayed flat because more people were home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Detective Sergeant Gabe Tetrault said the arson cases are mostly nuisance fires to small property such as bus shelters.
Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers also had a big year in 2020, with information and tips leading to the seizure of just over $10 million in drugs. That's roughly $7.3 million more than 2019. Tips also helped officers seize 13 weapons, five more than the previous year. Deputy Chief Kirk Earley said there have been at least three illegal marijuana grow operations busted locally in 2021 and he expects the trend to continue throughout the year. Earley added police have seized $20 million in drugs already this year.
The Intelligence Unit that focuses on drugs, street crime, organized crime and biker enforcement, and human trafficking said Heroin is making a comeback. The unit commander said Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine are still the drugs of choice in Chatham-Kent but drug dealers are mixing Heroin with Fentanyl.
The Intelligence Unit added it had a very productive year with 93 arrests for major drug and property crimes, leading to 321 charges. The unit also seized just over $11.5 million worth of drugs and 18 illegal guns and conducted 59 search warrants last year, which were all on par or more than 2019. By comparison the unit seized $3.3 million in drugs in 2019.
Chatham-Kent has two biker gangs with a total of 18 members and the unit said it continues to monitor them.
In 2020, three human trafficking arrests were made and 16 charges were laid related to those crimes.