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Property crime up, violent crime down

SURREY - Surrey has seen an increase in property crime and fraud this quarter compared to the same period last year, according to statistics released by police this week.

Violent crime, however, decreased and although homicides spiked in the last quarter, there has been a 42 per cent drop to date compared to last year.Surrey RCMP say there has been a regional increase in property crime and Surrey is no exception. Last quarter, there was a 25-per-cent increase in property crime.Only two types of property crime decreased: business break-ins and theft over $5,000. Police say it's often the case that a small group of thieves commits a large percentage of the crimes.Fraud went up 52 per cent in the last quarter compared to 2013. Specifically, police are seeing thieves targeting people's credit card information.Although violent crime fell eight per cent in the last quarter and nine per cent yearto-date, the number of attempted murder charges increased by a whopping 200 per cent, sexual assault by 14 per cent and abduction or kidnapping by 86 per cent.Police attribute the increase in attempted murders to the use of knives during fights.In a news release, Sgt. Dale Carr said police statistics can change as investigations progress."Criminal investigations are fluid in nature," said Carr. "As police gather evidence, conduct witness statements, and dig deeper into a file, the elements of an offence can change."