ESTEVAN — The Estevan Police Service has seen an 18 per cent increase in call volumes for the first two months of the year, with large jumps in a couple of categories.
According to the monthly crime statistics report provided at the March 11 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners, the EPS has had 1,015 calls for service so far this year, up from 859 for the same time a year ago. February’s call volume stood at 486, up from 411 a year earlier.
Crimes against property stood at 33 for February, up from 28 for the same month in 2025. But the category total now stands at 71 for the year, up 48 per cent from 48 for the first two months of last year.
Nineteen of the 33 crimes against property in February were thefts under $5,000, up from 13. Thefts of a motor vehicle last month stood at nine, versus two a year earlier.
The EPS also had two residential break and enters and seven mischief/wilful damage incidents. The latter was unchanged from seven in February 2025.
In the first two months of the year, the EPS has responded to seven residential and three commercial break and enters, 12 thefts of a motor vehicle, one theft over $5,000, 27 thefts under $5,000 and 14 mischief/wilful damage complaints.
Police Chief Jamie Blunden said three of the vehicle thefts in February involved taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, in which it was taken by someone known to the owner. Charges weren’t laid.
“There was one tip for an ATV that was going to be stolen that eventually wasn’t stolen, and was eventually included in the numbers,” said Blunden.
As for thefts under $5,000, six different businesses suffered “small” thefts.
“We’re trying to get that out to the community about looking after [your property] and being proactive,” said Blunden.
Continued conversations with business owners about reducing thefts will be among the tasks for Estevan’s new community development officer, Blunden said.
Criminal Code traffic violations are also on the rise. The EPS had 16 last month, with 10 for impaired/exceed-related offences, five for impairment by drug and one for dangerous driving and other. There were four in February 2025.
So far this year, the EPS had 24 Criminal Code traffic violations, with 16 for impaired/exceed-related offences, seven for impairment by drug and one for dangerous driving and other. There were eight such offences in the first two months of 2025.
Blunden noted some unfounded incidents were listed with the impaired-related calls, but it also helps that traffic officers have been able to focus on traffic, rather than trying to help with vacancies at the EPS.
“I don’t think it’s because we have more people doing it [driving while impaired], I think we’re catching more people because of where we’re at for members,” he said.
The EPS had eight crimes against the person last month, with seven assaults and one sexual crime.
In the first two months of the year, the EPS had 19 crimes against the person, with 13 assaults, four assaults causing bodily harm and two sexual crimes. There were 16 crimes against the person in the first two months of 2025.
The EPS also had three Controlled Drugs and Substances Act violations, with two for trafficking and one for possession. There were four trafficking incidents in February of last year.
So far this year, the EPS had two instances of drug trafficking and two for possession. Five occurred in the first two months of last year.
The five-year average is 1,006 calls for service, with 24 crimes against the person, 49 crimes against property, 19 Criminal Code traffic violations and eight CDSA violations.
