RCMP reports Q2 2025 local crime numbers

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Strathmore RCMP reported a decrease in local crime, but an increase in traffic collisions during the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first. 

Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz presented the RCMP’s April 5 to Sept. 30 report to the Town of Strathmore Committee of the Whole on Jan. 14 to summarize local goings on and update the new council.

“Our policing priorities were established with the last council (at) the beginning of the fiscal year with respect to crime prevention and reduction activities within the Town of Strathmore,” said Wielgosz. 

Local police have emphasized reduction in property crimes, road safety, and community engagement. This is not to say they have been negligent in other areas; these in particular were specifically highlighted to the committee.

Wielgosz explained these areas being points of strategic focus aim to see the greatest impact for the benefit of the local community with respect to public safety. 

“If we may be noticing a certain crime trend that may be emerging, we can also modify our priorities and add them to what it is we are looking at,” he said. 

Break and enter incidents dropped from nine in the first quarter of 2025 down to three in the second. Thefts of and from motor vehicles also saw drops in activity from 13 to nine, and from six to five respectively.

Regarding reportable traffic collisions, there were 33 in the second quarter, up from 22 in the first. Those resulting in injury were up from four to seven during the indicated time period. 

Though reportable collisions have been indicated to be significantly up from the previous year, the numbers are still well within the six-year historical average. 

The report describes driver inattentiveness being a significant contributor to collisions largely consisting of rear end collisions, striking objects such as posts, lights and guard rails, and running red lights. 

Of the collisions noted during the time period, one resulted in a fatality.

“Our first program that we have seen much success over the past four years in my tenure here is our habitual offender management program. These are people that we know of in our community that have certainly had a negative impact on communities through the volumes of crimes that they commit,” added Wielgosz. 

“During Quarter 1 and Quarter 2, we were monitoring 15 habitual offenders, seven of them residing in the Town of Strathmore proper. Compliance checks during Quarter 1 and Quarter 2, we did not find any of those subjects to be out of compliance.”

Addressing concerns expressed by council members, Wielgosz added local RCMP may explore additional safety measures to prevent collisions and injuries along Highways 1 and 817, being among the more common areas of incidents.