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I. 
CANADIAN CRIME RATES
BURGLARY & HOME INVASION:
A Real Threat

Police: 

"Break and enters are now a lucrative and full-time business"

"Criminal gangs robbing high-end homes...from Colombia and another from the country of Georgia...'casing' homes...Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Markham"

"Organized break-and-enter gangs arrive as tourists and target Canadian neighbourhoods" -w5 / Halton Police

2020 Update: Crime Tourists

January 4, 2020: W5 CTV News Investigative Report - Additional Foreign Burglars
Crime Tourism is here. Burglars visiting from abroad.
YRP break in ring news article
The break and enter scene has changed.

Burglary Statistics

Also known as "Break and Enter". Here are some statistics for Canada and some large cities where data was readily available. The calculated values here account for the fact than only 31% of crimes are reported in Canada (2013) so that you get a better sense of the actual risk. Unfortunately, 69% of Canadians don't report due to fear retribution or the perception that nothing would be done about it. Single detached houses have a higher risk than high-rises. 

Emotional & Psychological Consequences for Burglary Victims

(Statistics Canada - Criminal Victimization Study 2014)

6% have sleeping problems and/or depression

8% have long-term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Repeat burglaries: once burglarized, you are 12 times more likely to be burglarized again

Single-family dwellings on the ground are 15% more likley to be burglarized than apartments

Canada

Burglaries at all location types in 2015. There were 2.5 persons living in a household on average in 2011
(Statistics Canada).

159338

Number of Reported Burglaries

Statistics Canada

444

Reported Burglaries per 100,000 Persons

Statistics Canada

3.58

% of Households Burglarized

Calculated (lower is better)

28

1 out of 28 Households Burglarized

Calculated (higher is better)

City of Toronto

5 year annual average of burglaries at residences from 2008-2012. There were 2.8 persons living in a household on average in 2011
(Statistics Canada).
8424

Number of Reported Burglaries

Toronto Police Services

322

Reported Burglaries per 100,000 Persons

Toronto Police Services

2.91

% of Households Burglarized

Calculated (lower is better)

34

1 out of 34 Households Burglarized

Calculated (higher is better)

York Region (Toronto Suburb)

5 year annual average of burglaries at all location types from 2011-2015. There were 3.2 persons living in a household on average in 2011
(York Region Planning and Economic Development).
2111

Number of Reported Burglaries

York Regional Police

187.5

Reported Burglaries per 100,000 Persons

York Regional Police

1.92

% of Households Burglarized

Calculated (lower is better)

52

1 out of 52 Households Burglarized

Calculated (higher is better)

City of Vancouver

5 year annual average of burglaries at residences from 2011-2015. There were 2.6 persons living in a household on average in 2011
(Statistics Canada).
2447

Number of Reported Burglaries

Vancouver Police Department

386

Reported Burglaries per 100,000 Persons

Vancouver Police Department

3.24

% of Households Burglarized

Calculated (lower is better)

31

1 out of 31 Households Burglarized

Calculated (higher is better)

City of Calgary

5 year annual average of burglaries at residences from 2009-2013. There were 2.6 persons living in a household on average in 2011
(Statistics Canada).
2575

Number of Reported Burglaries

Calgary Police Service

215

Reported Burglaries per 100,000 Persons

Calgary Police Service

1.80

% of Households Burglarized

Calculated (lower is better)

56

1 out of 56 Households Burglarized

Calculated (higher is better)

City of Montreal

5 year annual average of burglaries at all location types from 2011-2015. There were 2.3 persons living in a household on average in 2011
(Statistics Canada).
11393

Number of Reported Burglaries

Montreal Police Service

589

Reported Burglaries per 100,000 Persons

Montreal Police Service

4.37

% of Households Burglarized

Calculated (lower is better)

22

1 out of 22 Households Burglarized

Calculated (higher is better)

Home Invasion Robbery Statistics

Also known as "robbery in residence" or "break and enter with any violent offence". Here are some statistics for Canada and a few large cities where data was readily available. The calculated values here account for the fact than only 31% of crimes are reported in Canada (2013) so that you get a more better sense of the actual risk. Unfortunately, 69% of Canadians don't report due to fear retribution or the perception that nothing would be done about it. These occur less frequently but are particularly traumatic for the victims who suffer with long term consequences.

Canada

5 year annual average 2004-2008
(Statistics Canada)

7181 Reported
22 Reported per 100,000 persons
0.18% of Households (calc)
1 in 562 Households (calc)

City of Toronto

5 year annual average 2006-2010
(Toronto Police Services)

303 Reported
12 Reported per 100,000 persons
0.11% of Households (calc)
1 in 956 Households (calc)

York Region

5 year annual average 2011-2015
(York Regional Police)

14 Reported
1 Reported per 100,000 persons
0.01% of Households (calc)
1 in 7234 Households (calc)

City of Calgary

5 year annual average 2009-2013
(Calgary Police Service)

60 Reported
5 Reported per 100,000 persons
0.04% of Households (calc)
1 in 2391 Households (calc)

Profile of Canadian Home Invasion Robberies

Here are some revealing statistics to help you get a sense of what a typical Home Invasion Robbery may look like in Canada. These highlights came from this study: "Breaking and Entering in Canada - 2002" conducted by Juristat - Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada. 
0%

Strangers

0%

Weapons Present

0%

Victims Sustained Injuries

Weapons Used

Firearms

33
%

Knives or Cutting Instruments

30
%

Garotte or Poison

20
%

Clubs or Blunt Instruments

12
%

Causes of Victims' Injuries

Any Weapon

33
%

Firearms

10
%

Knives

8
%

Physical Force

25
%

Victim Age Profile

18-29

28
%

30-39

17
%

40-49

16
%

50-59

10
%

60+

15
%

Crime Maps
Where Is It Happening?

The simple answer is... ANYWHERE! Burglars are essentially 'trick or treating' to find opportunities to break in. See our Risk Analysis section to see how a typical burglar operates.  

Below are two example screenshots from Police online interactive Crime Maps. One from the York Regional Police Crime Map and the other from Vancouver Police Services Crime Map. Both show that break-ins are happening anywhere.

Example screen shot of map showing break and enters in all neighbourhoods in York Region.
York Region Crime Map: 813 Break & Enters in 6 months shown in this window (Aug 23, 2016-Feb 2017)
Example map showing break and enters in all neighbourhoods in Vancouver
Vancouver Crime Map: 921 Break & Enters in 5 months shown in this window (May 2016-August 2016)

Interactive Online Crime Maps:
Go see actual incidents in your area

Many Canadian interactive online crime maps are listed here for your convenience. For a more indicative view, go into 'filter' or 'search' and try to choose a long date range (many months) and filter for residential 'break and enters'. If your city is not listed, try Googling "Interactive Crime Map" for your city.
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-undo serious psychological long term harm
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