Chatham-Kent police are reporting a busy year in 2024 dealing with murders, attempted murders, aggravated assaults, drugs, and guns.
CK police reported the Major Crime Section dealt with three murders and two attempted murders last year, up one in each category from 2023.
They said aggravated assaults were also up from 14 to 26, criminal harassment increased from 132 to 255, and weapons calls jumped from 32 to 38.
However, sexual assaults, assaults, abductions, and drug calls were down, according to the annual police report.
Property crimes were mostly down too.
The report showed thefts and counterfeit money calls decreased last year compared to the previous year.
Break-ins at homes dropped from 450 to 383, but break-and-enters at businesses jumped from 283 to 338, police added.
However, arsons rose from 22 to 37 and possession of stolen property increased from 52 to 65.
The Intelligence Unit reported it recovered nearly $815,000 in drugs and stolen property, 20 illegal firearms, and over $26,000 in cash from investigations.
The unit said 156 total charges were laid last year and 36 arrests were made related to drugs and property crimes. That's down from 69 arrests and 382 charges the year prior.
Meanwhile, Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers noted tips from the public led to more arrests and more charges laid on fewer calls.
However, they recovered fewer weapons and recovered and seized less property and drugs, adding that one weapon was recovered last year compared to 34 in 2023.
Crime Stoppers also recovered $172,410 in property and drugs last year compared to $1 million the previous year.