Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Penticton RCMP have had their hands full this year with an overall increase in crime and two homicide investigations to deal with.

During the second quarter, the RCMP responded to 4,885 calls for service compared to 4,188 calls in the same quarter in 2014, an increase of 17 per cent, according to information provided to city council by Supt. Kevin Hewco.

They also responded to a 26 per cent increase in criminal code files in the second quarter compared to the same time period last year.

Theft of vehicles is up 141 per cent, theft from vehicles is up 31 per cent and arson is up 220 per cent.

Break and enters also continue to be a problem, with break and enters from businesses up 62 per cent.

Impaired driving remains a concern and there were two dangerous high profile files, one being an impaired driver who refused to stop for police and the other the apprehension of two prolific offenders who stole two pick up trucks and fled from police.

Rick Dellebuur, community policing/Crime Stoppers coordinator, said in a media briefing Tuesday that having prolific offenders, such as those running amok in the South Okanagan this year, can really skew the numbers.

And when there is a situation such as the nudity issue at Three Mile Beach, the number of calls tends to go up.

There have also been two homicide investigations within the city this year.

Hewco says the two cases are very labour intensive and demanding investigations, that require the RCMP to be innovative when it comes to manpower and management of the investigations.

Further information on the quarterly report is available on the July 20 city council agenda on the city's website.