Erin Haluschak
Record staff
Comox Valley RCMP Insp. Tim Walton delivered some positive news to Comox council last week.
During his quarterly report to council, he explained crime is down in the town by three per cent, and calls for service down five per cent from the same time last year.
While the news is good, Walton said there is still one message residents don’t seem to be receiving: lock your door.
“Theft from vehicles are up substantially in Comox … We arrested a young person just before Christmas. He was very good at counting the amount of cars he tried - 600. Almost 400 of those were unlocked, of which he went into all of them. And of all the car keys he found, he stole the vehicles.”
Walton said significant seizures of marijuana grow ops are up, and credited community members for alerting authorities.
He noted there will be a minor cost increase as a result of the national changes to the RCMP Auxiliary program which was released last month. He said the program plays an important role in the community, as each member logged an average of 4,100 hours a year.
Because auxiliary members can no longer participate in ride-alongs or help with (impaired driving) checkpoints, Walton said regular members will now be responsible for manning checkpoints and special events.
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With a letter requesting support and assistance, council approved a motion for a $2,500 grant to The Alberni Project Society, which operates the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial in the Comox Centre Mall.
In the letter to council, treasurer/secretary James Derry credited council for their $2,500 grant last year, and asked council to consider a $5,000 grant for support.
Derry said their successful Anne Frank: A History for Today exhibit brought more than 2,000 visitors to Comox.
Coun. Hugh MacKinnon said last year’s funding was considered a seed grant, however, “it’s been a success. It’s a real plus for our community.”
Coun. Barbara Price agreed.
“If this amount is an encouragement to stay within the community, I’d think it would be worth doing.”
The motion was carried unanimously at the committee of the whole meeting and will be forwarded to council next week.