Police report highlights increase in shoplifting and resisting arrest in Wick
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Increases in local crimes related to shoplifting and resisting arrest were noted at a meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) on Monday evening.
Allan Farquhar, chairman of the RBWCC, read out details from Police Scotland's report which highlighted that 28 people were arrested and taken into custody in Wick over March.
“There were 59 offences and 51 the month before that,” said Mr Farquhar.
“There were 15 road traffic issues and 15 the month before. Dishonesty offences have gone up with 15 cases reported and a lot of shoplifting going on and folk were getting quite belligerent when they got caught doing it as well. They’re resisting a lot more and making a bigger fuss about it so the police have had to be a lot more involved with that.
“[Police] are suggesting that shopkeepers get CCTV in. Prevention would be better than cure but that’s where we are.”
Mr Farquhar noted the disparity between the cases of dishonestly over March compared to February of this year when only six were reported locally. There were audible gasps from fellow members of the community council as he read out the details of the report at the meeting in the town’s Assembly Rooms.
“There was one case of an assault of a police person. There were three drug offences and there were five for the month before. There were also three cases of sudden deaths reported as well but none the previous month.
“The rest were just miscellaneous cases with a lot more mental issue support by police.”
