ESTEVAN — The Estevan Police Service had a considerable increase in call volumes in January, thanks in part to a spike in property crimes.
According to data released at the Feb. 11 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners, the EPS had 524 calls for service in January, up 17 per cent from the 448 reported for the same month a year earlier.
Crimes against property were up 95 per cent, from 20 in January 2025 to 39 in January 2026. Fifteen thefts under $5,000 were reported last month, compared to 14 for the same month a year earlier, while 11 mischief/wilful damage incidents were reported, up from four in the same month in 2025.
The EPS also had eight break and enters, with five for residences and three for business, compared to none in 2025. Also, thefts of a motor vehicle doubled from two in 2025 to four, and there was one theft over $5,000, compared to none in January 2025.
Among the other crime numbers, the EPS had 10 crimes against the person, with five for assaults, four for assaults causing bodily harm and one for a sexual crime. There were 11 crimes against the person in the first month last year.
One charge was laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act last month for possession. In January 2025, there was one incident of trafficking.
Eight incidents for Criminal Code traffic violations occurred in January, with six for impaired/exceed-related offences and two for impairment by drug. The EPS had four Criminal Code traffic violations in January 2025.
The five-year average is 527 calls for service for January, including 25 crimes against property, 12 crimes against the person, nine Criminal Code traffic violations and four Controlled Drugs and Substances Act violations.
