Auto thefts, thefts under $5,000 and fraud cases were all up slightly last year over 2008. While police were happy to see drops in robberies and assaults, the annual year-end review of crime statistics also highlighted areas that continue to require a focus of resources.

Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse told last month’s meeting of the Hamilton Police Service’s Board thefts from autos saw an increase –fueled by people typically looking for quick cash to feed a drug habit. Auto thefts by organized crime operations are a big issue on Hamilton Mountain, while copper theft is a problem in the city’s industrial areas.

Also on the rise are organized crimes involving illegal or fraudulent mortgages that local police are challenged to deal with. Det. Craig Parmenter of the Hamilton Police Service’s fraud branch said the standard case usually begins with identify theft.

The fraud artist will steal the identity of someone with a good credit rating, then inflate the value of a property to deceive a bank or other financial institution into providing a higher mortgage amount. The buyer and seller are usually both in on the swindle and share the profits.