More violent crimes were reported in Vancouver during the Olympics than in the same period in 2009, partly due to the huge crowds downtown, police say. (CBC)

The number of violent crimes in Vancouver jumped 30 per cent during the Olympics, police say.

Statistics for the month of February released Wednesday show an increase in assaults, sexual assaults and robberies during the last half of the month, while the number of property crimes dropped.

The Olympic Games ran Feb. 12-28.

Police said that with thousands of additional people partying in downtown Vancouver during the Olympics, it's no surprise that officers were busy breaking up arguments that got out of hand.

"Basically, [they were] alcohol-fuelled fights and common assaults," said Const. Jana McGuinness. "Not major incidents, and not serious crimes, but they do add up."

There was also an increase in sexual offences, with 11 more reports than the 16 incidents reported in the same period in 2009. But other types of crime such as theft and break and enter decreased by six per cent during the Games.

One criminologist said the figures are not surprising.

"There were far more targets in the city during the Olympic period," said Robert Gordon of Simon Fraser University. "But at the same time, [there was] far more security."

Gordon also said the statistics may not be completely accurate because victims of crime who were from foreign countries may have been less likely to call police.

With files from The Canadian Press