Still robbery capital
’Peg’s per capita rate tops in Canada
By CHRIS KITCHING, Winnipeg Sun
Last Updated: March 26, 2010 7:35am
Donna Chartrand is fearful since she, her grandson, and service dog were assaulted and robbed. (MARCEL CRETAIN/WINNIPEG SUN)
Despite dramatic decreases in the last decade, Winnipeg remains the robbery capital of Canada, according to a report analyzing holdups.
Released Thursday, the Statistics Canada study, based on 2008 data, found Winnipeg’s per capita robbery rate of 233 incidents per 100,000 residents was the highest of major cities and more than twice the declining national average of 97.
Meanwhile, Manitoba was tops among provinces and territories.
In terms of actual numbers, Winnipeg’s 1,771 incidents ranked fifth.
Winnipeg has consistently had one of the worst robbery rates, despite a 24% decrease since 1999, so the unpleasant title didn’t surprise many.
Winnipeg Police Association president Mike Sutherland said the city figures may be higher than it appears because the study focuses on the entire Winnipeg census metropolitan area, meaning some bedroom communities and their low crime rates are lumped in, bringing the rate down a bit.
“I would imagine the city of Winnipeg alone is higher,” Sutherland said.
The overall decline is mostly due to a drop in robberies of banks and stores.
Sutherland attributes it to advancements in security.
“If one target becomes riskier they’ll just move on to another one,” he said.
Home invasions and public transit robberies were up, while gas station and convenience store holdups were among the highest in Montreal and Winnipeg, the report found.
What the study doesn’t measure is the emotional toll on victims.
Donna Chartrand, who’s visually impaired and in a wheelchair, said she’s afraid to leave her home on her own since she, her grandson and service dog were assaulted and robbed by a group of youths.
“I stay in my house more than anything. I used to be hot-wheeling all over the place but now I feel too scared,” Chartrand said.
At 62%, most holdups in Winnipeg in 2008 were of the strong-arm variety, where a person is robbed of property, said Staff Sgt. Rhyse Hanson of Winnipeg Police Service’s major crimes unit.
Money and jewelry were stolen the most.
Some do it because they think they’ll get away with it or won’t get a severe sentence if convicted, Hanson said.
He said police patrol areas where robberies occur frequently and urge people to be mindful of their safety and surroundings.
Half of all robberies occurred in public places such as a street, while 39% occurred in a bank or business and 10% in homes, the report found.
Sutherland and Mayor Sam Katz said they want changes to the Criminal Code and Youth Criminal Justice Act to create stiffer penalties.
Sutherland said Winnipeg needs more police officers.
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