Introduction

Canada has long been ranked among the safest countries globally. But when we dig deeper into crime trends for 2025, several data points defy assumptions. From rising fraud and cybercrime to regional spikes and shifts in gender or youth violence, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. In this post, we’ll uncover the Top 10 surprising crime statistics shaping the national landscape—and explain what they mean for security leaders and retail businesses leveraging ArcadianAI’s Ranger AI assistant.

Quick Summary / Key Takeaways

• Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) fell 4% in 2024—but rates remain elevated in certain regions.

• Cybercrime incidents doubled from 2018 to 2024, now at ~225 per 100,000.

• Property crime declined until 2014, then spiked nearly 16% by 2019, before repricing ~2,138 per 100k by 2022.

• Violent crime rose 40% from 2014 to 2022; Canada still trails the U.S. overall.

• Certain CMAs like Halifax and St. John’s buck the trend—CSI rising while national average fell.

Background & Relevance

• In 2024, Canada’s overall crime rate dropped 4% to 5,672 incidents per 100,000 population; CSI declined by 4% to 77.9 (Wikipedia, Statistics Canada, Fraser Institute, Statistics Canada).

• Despite recent declines, Canada has seen a reversal: crime rates began rising again after a decade of decline beginning in 2014 and peaking around 2019–2022 (Fraser Institute, Wikipedia).

• A Fraser Institute report shows violent crime rose 40% from 2014–2022, while property crime rose ~16%, contrasting with U.S. trends where property crime fell 24% (Fraser Institute).

The Top 10 Surprising Stats

1. Cybercrime Doubled Since 2018

Police-reported cybercrime reached 225 incidents per 100,000 population in 2024, over twice the 2018 rate of 92 (Statistics Canada).

2. Shoplifting Still Rising Despite Overall Decline

Shoplifting incidents climbed 14% in 2024, and surged 66% since 2014, even as other theft types fell (Statistics Canada).

3. Youth Crime Continues to Fall

Youth crime rates dropped slightly in 2024 across many provinces, even as adult criminal incidents remained prevalent in urban CMAs (Statistics Canada, Statistics Canada).

4. Property Crime Was Lower Than the U.S., Until Now

From 2014–2022, property crime rates in Canada increased 7%, while U.S. rates declined by 24%—flipping a long-standing trend (Fraser Institute).

5. Violent Crime Rising Sharply

Violent crimes in Canadian CMAs increased from ~184 per 100,000 in 2014 to ~258 in 2022, a 40% rise despite being lower than U.S. averages (Fraser Institute).

6. Not All Provinces Followed the National Trend

While national CSI fell in 2024, Halifax’s CSI rose by 3% and St. John’s by 2%, indicating regional inconsistencies (Statistics Canada).

7. Certain CMAs Like Halifax and Halifax See Rising Crime

In 2024, Halifax’s crime rate grew 6%, and CSI climbed to 74.0, versus national decline (Statistics Canada).

8. Saskatchewan and Manitoba Still Among Highest CSI Regions

For example in 2024, Manitoba’s CSI was 141.2, and Saskatchewan’s violent CSI was 198.5—well above national averages (Statistics Canada).

9. Canada Still Safer Overall Than the U.S.

Even with recent increases, Canadian CMAs’ average violent crime (~262/100k) remains 34% lower than in U.S. MSAs (~359/100k) from 2004–2022 (Fraser Institute).

10. Crime Severity Index Below Historical Highs—Yet Rising

Though CSI dipped in 2024, it remains elevated compared to early 2010s levels; the post‑2014 rise reversed longtime downward trends (Fraser Institute, Wikipedia).

Comparisons & Use Cases

ArcadianAI’s Ranger AI assistant can connect online fraud detection with camera alerts, detect anomalies, and enforce tailored rules—addressing both retail shrink and digital threats.

FAQ – Common Questions

Q1: Is crime going down or up in Canada?
In 2024, overall crime rate and CSI dropped ~4%, but long-term trends show rising crime since 2014, especially in cybercrime, violent offenses, and shoplifting.

Q2: Which crimes rose fastest recently?
Fraud and cybercrime doubled; violent crime rose 40% since 2014; shoplifting increased 66%.

Q3: Are certain regions worse?
Yes—Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Halifax, and St. John’s saw CSI increases even while the national average declined.

Q4: Is Canada still safer than the U.S.?
Yes—while recent crime growth narrows gaps, Canadian CMAs’ violent and property crime rates remain below U.S. levels (Fraser Institute).

Q5: How does surveillance help now?
AI-enabled surveillance like Ranger connects in-store, online fraud detection, and real-time analytics—reducing response times and losses.

Conclusion & CTA

Canada’s crime landscape in 2025 holds unexpected shifts: surging cybercrime, creeping shoplifting, and regional inconsistencies. While the national CSI dipped slightly in 2024, indicators suggest risk is rising again—especially online and in certain provinces.

ArcadianAI’s Ranger AI assistant offers a proactive edge—camera-agnostic, cloud-native, and AI-first—to identify threats early, reduce losses, and improve ROI.

Ready to get ahead? See Ranger in action on the demo page and safeguard your business today: https://www.arcadian.ai/pages/get-demo

Internal Links:

• Learn more about store analytics and retail shrink reduction with Ranger

• Dive into AI surveillance for false alarm reduction

• Discover other crime trend reports and retail security insights

External References:

• Statistics Canada daily release on police‑reported crime and CSI 2024 (Statistics Canada)

• Fraser Institute analysis comparing Canadian and U.S. crime trends (Fraser Institute)