Yukon needs more RCMP, says Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce

More RCMP officers are needed in the territory, as the population grows and police deal with a recent spike in break-ins and vandalism.

Community groups have met with Whitehorse RCMP to try and find solutions to the rise in petty crime. Rick Karp, the Chamber's president, said local businesses are shouldering the financial burden of the rise in crime, installing additional camera systems, locks and bars.

According to Karp, the city's police need more support.

"I think it's time now, with the increasing populations in Yukon, for the Department of Justice, for YG [the territorial government] to facilitate having a few more RCMP officers here," he said.

Maxed out

The police recently said that break-ins in Whitehorse have tripled in the last year. 

"The RCMP has stated quite clearly that they're maxed out." said Karp. "There are a lot of people coming to them, there are a lot of reports of vandalism — little things like graffiti, break-and-enters — there are a lot of things they have to prioritize and quite honestly they're doing everything that they can do."

This past weekend, police say four industrial and construction sites in the city were broken into. Christ the King Elementary School was broken into on August 15.

Police are still investigating those incidents.

Concerns about 'uptick in crime' 

Angela Drainville, executive director of the non-profit Miles Canyon Historic Railway Society, said they had a break-in at the Copperbelt Railway and Mining Museum this summer.

"I have a lot of concerns about the uptick in crime ... We're constantly exposed to a lot of the graffiti and vandalism that happens along the waterfront trolley."

Drainville said there's a role the community can play in deterring crime, like always locking vehicles. 

"A lot of cars are being broken into. One simple thing we can do at home is make sure our cars are locked and we're not leaving any valuables in them."