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Police recognize increase in violent activity in Hamilton

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Hamilton Police recognize an increase in violent activity after two unrelated shootings and one robbery over a single weekend in the city.

“We should all be disturbed by the events over the weekend,” Police Chief Frank Bergen said. “We can’t be lulled into complacency by accepting this is what our city has become.”

There have been five shootings and three robberies since Nov. 27, a period of a little over a week.

A gun was brandished at two of the robberies and a knife and taser were used in the third to threaten the victim.

READ MORE: Police seek identity of man who stabbed a store employee in Hamilton

Police were also able to seize two crime guns over the weekend.

A pistol with an extended magazine capacity was seized during the execution of a search warrant on Dec. 2 and a gun was found in a car after a Dec. 4 shooting near Catharine St.

To date, police have seized 234 crime guns from Hamilton streets.

Shootings are up 24 per cent compared to this time last year with the city at a higher sustained violent crime severity index, 16 per cent higher than the crime severity Hamilton experienced in 2018.

READ MORE: Police investigate fifth shooting in Hamilton in 7 days

Hamilton police say they will be dedicating further resources to concentrate on addressing recent violent crimes.

“I have seen these numbers rise since I joined Hamilton Police Service in 2018. This can’t be our new normal,” Chief Bergen said. “Thanks to our members for their hard work in tackling these challenging issues. We have to be relentless in addressing crime and work closely with our community to find solutions to the increasing trend.”