ESTEVAN — Estevan Police Chief Jamie Blunden believes the EPS continues (EPS) is making progress with crimes against properties and break-and-enter incidents.
Monthly numbers released at the June 10 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners show the EPS had 38 crimes against property in May, down from 44 for the same month in 2025. Included in last month’s total was 16 thefts under $5,000, 12 mischief/wilful damage complains, nine break and enters (four residential, three business and two listed as other), and one theft of a motor vehicle.
The EPS had 179 crimes against property in the first five months of the year, up 17 from Jan. 1-May 31, 2025. So far this year, members have had 79 thefts under $5,000, 46 mischief/wilful damage complaints, 34 break and enters (17 residential, 14 business and three other), 16 thefts of a vehicle and four thefts over $5,000.
Blunden said the EPS has started to see a decrease in trends after the numbers were up previously.
“The one area that is of concern is the break and enters … to … the residences, the businesses and all areas,” he said.
A group in the city that includes some youths has been responsible for a number of break-ins, he said.
“If they’re not a complainant at one point where somebody’s broken in to get into a fight, they’re accused in another, breaking into somebody else’s house,” said Blunden.
Meanwhile, Bludnen commended members for their work investigating the recent theft of three firearms during a break-in. Five people are facing more than 70 charges combined, and the firearms were recovered.
“A lot of people had a hand in this with respect to our officers. Everybody from the general patrol to our detectives … we did have a lot of officers out for it," said Blunden. "Our tactical team was involved as well.”
All three firearms were recovered.
Blunden also noted a break-in at an abandoned building in which people were entering to look for copper wire. The EPS was also called to an attempted theft at a hair salon.
As for residences, police were called to one for the theft of alcohol from a porch. One youth was arrested and two suspects remain at large. A group of youths was involved in one break-in, and then the complainant from that incident later broke into a residence.
“Although we do see the numbers a little higher, we do know what’s going on, and we’ve got a handle on them,” said Blunden.
The EPS is trying to work with the youths and the regional hub steering committee so the young people have an understanding of what is right and wrong.
“It’s not like we’re having a criminal organization here breaking and enter at this point, but we do have incidents that are making us say ‘OK, we have to do something about this’,” said Blunden.
Member at large Roberta DeRosier asked if it would be beneficial to speak with businesses about lighting and securing their properties. Blunden replied community engagement officer Const. Danielle Stephany wants to have more presentations.
Stephany did one on fraud earlier this year, and Blunden said Stephany has free reign to talk about topics she believes are important, such as online scams and frauds targeting seniors.
The overall monthly data released at the June 10 police board meeting show the EPS had 550 calls for service in May, down from 628 for the same month in 2025. The total for 2026 is 2,768, a 2.9 per cent increase from the same period the previous year.
Nine crimes against the person were reported in May, down from 29 for the same month in 2025. The EPS handled six assaults, two assaults causing bodily harm and one sexual crime last month.
From Jan. 1-May 31, the EPS had 61 crimes against the person, with 42 assaults, 13 sexual crimes and six assaults causing bodily harm. They had 74 crimes against the person in the first five months of last year.
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) numbers from the EPS show one drug trafficking incident in May, although several people were arrested on trafficking charges. The EPS had one drug possession charge in May 2025. As of May 31, the EPS has had nine CDSA infractions, with six for trafficking and three for possession, compared to six in the first five months of 2025.
The EPS also handled seven Criminal Code traffic violations, with five for impaired/exceed-related offences and two for impairment by drug. There were 12 such incidents last year.
From Jan. 1-May 31, the EPS had 53 Criminal Code traffic violations, with 36 for impaired/exceed-related offences, 15 for impairment by drug and two for dangerous driving and other. Forty-two such incidents occurred as of May 31, 2025.
The five-year average is 2,808 calls for service for the first five months of the year. The five-year averages are 65 crimes against the person, 152 crimes against property, 47 Criminal Code traffic violations and 15 incidents under the CDSA.
