VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The masses have flocked to Vancouver, but among them, where are all the criminals? It seems the crime rate has dropped since the start of the Games.
Compared with the same stretch a year ago, crime is down across the board. Auto theft is down 58 per cent, property crime is down 39 per cent, and serious assaults are down 38 per cent. According to the Province newspaper, The VPD credits the 2010 Integrated Security Unit, which adds an extra 7000 officers on the streets to deal with crowds of over 100,000 in the downtown core.
The City was surprised by the size and intensity of the crowds but claims bylaw officers and garbage crews are keeping up. The next concern is an increase in drunken fans on the streets as the Olympic hockey tournament really gets going.