BETWEEN January 1 and May 1, the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) observed a 67% increase in property crime in the Sumas Prairie area compared to the same period in 2024.
Through an intelligence-led approach, police identified several repeat prolific property offenders believed to be actively involved in the recent surge in criminal activity within the area.
In response, the Abbotsford Police’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) launched an investigation targeting these individuals. On May 20, with support from the Abbotsford Police’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team (LMD IERT), and the LMD Integrated Police Dog Services (IPDS), a search warrant was executed at a property in the 39900-block of Campbell Road in Abbotsford.
A second search warrant was executed on May 23 at a property in the 8700-block of Miles Road in Mission.
The searches resulted in the recovery of a significant amount of stolen property, including:
* 3 vehicles
* 5 ATVs/UTVs
*2 motorcycles
*1 travel trailer
*1 tractor
*1 skid steer
Police said the estimated total value of the recovered stolen property is approximately $500,000. The CRU investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to follow the evidence with the goal of advancing these files to the charge approval stage.
Abbotsford Police Sgt. Paul Walker said that police remain committed to holding those involved in property crime accountable. “We continue to deploy both overt and covert strategies in the Sumas Prairie area to ensure community safety and disrupt criminal activity. This approach is being supported by our patrol officers, and AbbyPD’s Street Outreach Response Team (SORT),” he added.
Abbotsford Police encourage residents in the Sumas Prairie area to continue reporting any suspicious activity to police. Community members are also reminded that they can stay informed about crime trends in their neighbourhoods by viewing current crime statistics online at www.abbypd.ca/crime-mapping.
