Last year, 175 robberies were reported to police in Saskatoon — an increase of more than 20 per cent over the 144 reported in 2018.

Saskatoon police logged an increase of more than 20 per cent in the number of robberies reported in the city in 2019.

According to the police force’s month-end statistics for December , which includes tallies for the year, 175 robberies were reported last year, while 144 were reported in 2018 — a 21.5 per cent increase.

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Police compiled the month-end statistics on Jan. 20; the numbers are subject to change as they are updated.

The East division saw the most significant jump year over year in the number of robberies, reporting a 200 per cent increase. Central division, which includes the core neighbourhoods, experienced a 42.9 per cent drop in the number of robberies reported.

The numbers also show a significant increase in break-ins to residential detached buildings, such as sheds — 640 were reported in 2019, compared to 483 in 2018, an increase of 32.5 per cent.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Ward, who oversees the general investigations section, said addictions issues often drive property crimes, many of which are crimes of opportunity. If someone checks the door handle of a garage or outbuilding and finds it unlocked, they may go in and grab what they can, for example.

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In most robbery cases, no one is physically injured, Ward said. They’re not necessarily muggings, in which someone is assaulted and their belongings are stolen. Ward said in some cases, a theft or shoplifting incident can become a robbery if the person makes a threat or an implied threat during the incident.

Some crimes of opportunity can be seasonal — robberies or garage and shed break-ins often decline in the winter due to reduced foot traffic. Bike thefts also occur less often during winter, but in the spring “go way up,” Ward said.

Other opportunistic crimes can increase in cold weather, however. Police recorded a small spike in vehicle thefts earlier this month during the cold snap, Ward said.

He encourages people to keep track of serial numbers and markings on their belongings, or take photos. Police have a dedicated pawn officer who checks for stolen goods and police can also identify stolen items online using information about distinctive markings, which can include an owner engraving their name on their tools.

Residential break and enters rose by 9.6 per cent overall in 2019; non-residential break and enters — which include break-ins involving businesses — fell by 17.2 per cent, while vehicle thefts also decreased by nine per cent.