Kelowna RCMP 2025 report shows mixed crime trends

Kelowna city council will review the RCMP’s 2025 Year in Review report Monday, highlighting trends in crime, public safety initiatives, and policing priorities across the city.

Overall property crimes dropped slightly last year. Business break and enters fell more than 50 per cent since 2022, residential break-ins declined 15 per cent, and auto theft and theft from vehicles both decreased. At the same time, mischief rose 15 per cent, bike theft increased 23 per cent, and shoplifting climbed six per cent, prompting expanded foot patrols and community partnerships.

Crimes against persons showed a mixed picture. Assaults with weapons dropped nearly 26 per cent and bear spray incidents fell by a third, while intimate partner violence rose 40 per cent since 2022 and robberies increased 17 per cent, particularly downtown. Sexual assault reports also grew, with 81 disclosures to Interior Health compared with 65 the previous year.

Traffic and community safety initiatives continued to expand. Volunteers monitored almost 24,000 vehicles through Speed Watch, targeted distracted driving campaigns were carried out, and RCMP officers attended more than 100 community events. The Auxiliary Program resumed last August, giving volunteers a greater role in public engagement and crime prevention.

Superintendent Chris Goebel said the report shows both progress and challenges. “Our approach combines data driven strategies with community partnerships to address emerging crime pressures and maintain public confidence,” Goebel said.