OPP report decreases in property and violence crime in west portion of Rainy River district

Crime in the western half of the Rainy River District continues to trend downward.

The latest figures from Ontario Provincial Police show a 9% decrease in violent crime, despite a slight increase in the number of sexual assaults this year.

Property crime is down 16%, driven in part by fewer incidents of theft, break-ins and fraud.

The statistics take into account charges laid in areas patrolled between the towns of Fort Frances and Rainy River.

On the region’s roadways, some motorists are a little lax with the provincial seatbelt laws.

Provincial Police report officers in the Rainy River District have ticketed 63 people for seatbelt infractions this year.

That is almost double the number recorded from January to September in 2023.

OPP are also seeing an increase in motorists driving while distracted.

Twenty-three people have been ticketed, also double from last year at this time.

Another 100 motorists have been caught for speeding, which is fewer than in 2023 (119) and 2024 (144) to the end of September.

The number of impaired driving charges is also down slightly, with 67 compared to 77 in the first nine months of 2024.