Brandon sees ‘dramatic decline’ in B&Es
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Increased police cadet presence is being credited for the sharp downturn in break and enters across Brandon in 2025.
Commercial and residential break-ins were down by roughly 50 per cent from 2021 and dropped significantly from 2024, based on calls for service to Brandon police.
In 2025, the Brandon Police Service received 216 break-and-enter calls for service, down from 312 in 2024. In 2021, there were 449 calls for service.
Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates at the corner of 10th Street and Rosser Avenue in downtown Brandon on Wednesday afternoon. Bates said he felt the presence of community cadets in the city has played a role in the "dramatic decline" in break-and-enter calls for service. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
As of Feb. 28, BPS received 21 break-and-enter calls for service this year.
Emmy Sanderson, the executive director of the Brandon Downtown Biz, said the drop reflects changes made in recent years by the Brandon Police Service, the city and the downtown community.
“When I see those numbers … and I know downtown is not perfect, and I know we’ve got a long way to go, but it tells me that when everyone’s working together, it makes a difference,” Sanderson said.
She specifically mentioned the introduction of the BPS community cadet unit in 2023 and an increase in police presence in the downtown area.
Sanderson said while working on police service’s Downtown Safety Strategy in 2025, there were also conversations around the attitude toward downtown and challenges within the police service, which helped “bring everyone onto the same page.”
Police Chief Tyler Bates said the cadet program has been meaningful and has contributed to community wellness in a lot of ways.
He said he felt the presence of cadets in the city has played a role in the “dramatic decline” in break-and-enter calls for service.
“I think that the numbers being parallel to that investment in our cadet program are not by accident. They’re not coincidental,” Bates said.
“I think this speaks to the value of not just reacting and responding to crime, but the value of proactive presence.”
If there is an abundance of cadets within an area and there “isn’t an opportunity to commit those crimes because of that visibility, it’s going to result in a decrease in the stats,” Bates said.
Cadets can spend their days patrolling, as opposed to having to deal with the administrative elements of police work, which often tie down sworn officers, he said.
Additionally, he said cadets are constantly engaging with people in the community, whether it’s speaking with business owners or helping vulnerable citizens access resources.
“There’s a level of trust that’s been built within the community through that community presence.”
There are currently 13 community cadets, Bates said, which is three more than a full complement.
He said the steering committee for the BPS Downtown Safety Strategy has helped police identify areas of concern. The steering committee is made up of representative from several groups, including BPS, business owners, downtown residents and community partners.
An aerial view of downtown Brandon on Wednesday afternoon. Break and enter calls for service in the downtown area dropped to 49 in 2025 from 84 the previous year, according to Brandon police. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
He said the drop in break and enters is also reflected in the city’s downtown.
Break and enter calls for service in the downtown area dropped to 49 in 2025 from 84 the year before.
Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Ludwig said the chamber has had multiple conversations with BPS about different crime prevention initiatives, including community cadets, and the numbers show it is having beneficial effects.
Even if nothing is stolen during a break and enter, it’s still a burden on the business, she said.
“Often there’s significant damage, such as broken windows, damage to locks — just a mess to clean up,” Ludwig said.
She added that filing an insurance claim can be a headache and business owners may have to pay out of pocket and wait months before they are reimbursed.
She urged business owners to report break and enters and thefts to police so they can keep accurate records of statistics and what’s happening in the city.
Ludwig said if a business owner doesn’t know where to start or needs guidance navigating how to deal with a break and enter, the chamber is “always there to help.”
The drop in break and enters also resulted in a reduction in charges.
In 2025, police laid 49 charges for break and enters across the city compared to 92 charges laid in 2024.
Bates said these numbers are approximate as charges are added or changed on a day-to-day basis.
» sanderson@brandonsun.com