NB Telegraph-Journal | Saint John
As published on page B2 on July 27, 2005
Police cite prescription-drug abuse as robberies jump 54 per cent
BY DAVID SHIPLEY
Telegraph-Journal
Increasing abuse of prescription drugs is one of the major reasons behind a rise in robberies in the Saint John area, police say.
There was a 54 per cent increase in robberies in the Saint John area in 2004 compared to 2003, according to the latest information from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, a branch of Statistics Canada.
In 2004 there were 63 robberies per 100,000 people, giving the Saint John area about 91 robberies for its population of 145,000. In 2003 there were 41 robberies per 100,000.
In 2004 there were about 91 robberies reported in the Saint John area.
With prescription painkiller abuse on the rise, addicts are turning to robbery for cash to pay for drugs such as Oxycontin and Dilaudid, said Acting Inspector Bill Hanley of the Saint John Police Force's Criminal Investigations Division.
'When people are in dire straits and are looking for fast cash to deal with their habit, then robbery is the way they usually go," said Acting Insp.. Hanley, adding that during break and enters criminals are not always sure what they will get.
"These are people that are addicted and in very, very rough shape," he said, adding that prescription drug abuse has begun to overshadow abuse of drugs such as crack cocaine.
To combat the rise in robberies resulting from drug addictions the police are talking with community groups to develop long-term solutions, he said.
The Saint John census metropolitan area is a 3,360-square kilometer land mass reaching from Lepreau and Petersville to St. Martins and Hampton Parish.
It includes Grand Bay-Westfield, Saint John, Rothesay, Quispamsis and Hampton.
Though robberies were on the rise in 2004, there was an overall decline in the crime rate and significant declines in break and enters and motor vehicle thefts.
Acting Insp.. Hanley said police were pleased with the overall decline in the area's crime rate, which was down 8.3 per cent in 2004.
Among the crimes on the decline last year were break and enters, down 15 per cent, and motor vehicle thefts, down 42 per cent.
Acting Insp.. Hanley credited the drop to a community policing initiative undertaken by patrol officers who went door to door advising citizens to call them if they see something suspicious going on at a neighbour's home rather than assuming everything is OK.
Officers also distributed information pamphlets advising people on how they can help reduce the number of break and enters.
The decrease in motor vehicles is the result of newer cars and trucks being equipped with vehicle anti-theft devices which prevent criminals from stealing them without first stealing the keys, Acting Insp.. Hanley said.
"I'm sure that's driving down that number."
