Calgary’s Crime Rate Drops Significantly by nearly 50% since 2019, according to recent statistics from the Calgary Police Service (CPS). However, while property crimes have significantly decreased, incidents like violent robberies are on the rise.
Sharp Decline in Crime
CPS data indicates the city is on track to record approximately 22,000 property and violent crimes in 2024, a 42% reduction compared to 38,193 crimes reported in 2019. The most notable change has been in property crimes, which have plummeted by over 50% from 31,225 in 2019 to 13,856 as of mid-December 2024.
Violent crime figures have remained relatively steady, with 7,018 cases reported so far in 2024 compared to 6,988 in 2019. However, Calgary’s population has grown substantially during this time, from 1.335 million to nearly 1.5 million, meaning the per capita violent crime rate has decreased.
Calgary’s Crime Severity Improvement
Calgary’s crime severity reduction is among the top three most significant decreases among Canadian cities in 2023. Property crime, including break-ins and vehicle thefts, has dropped by 40%. Shootings have decreased for the second consecutive year, with 70 incidents in 2024 compared to 100 in 2023 and 127 in 2022. Homicides have also declined, with 16 reported as of mid-December compared to 21 at the same time in 2023.
Reasons for the Drop
Several factors contributed to the improvements:
- Enhanced data has helped identify crime hot spots, allowing police to focus resources effectively.
- App-based communication has raised awareness about crimes like break-ins.
- With more people working from home, residential break-and-enters have decreased.
Perceptions vs. Reality
Despite statistical improvements, public perception of safety remains a concern. Many Calgarians feel unsafe in areas like the downtown core or on public transit, even though some progress has been made. Personal robberies on transit and incidents involving vulnerable individuals are still troubling trends, along with crimes such as robberies at cannabis stores and thefts targeting young people for items like iPhones.
Expert Insights
Criminologist Doug King of Mount Royal University noted Calgary’s trends align with broader decreases in crime across North America over the past few years. King emphasized that while violent crime figures remain steady, most such incidents involve people who know each other.
Crime Hot Spots in Calgary
- Highest per capita crime: Eagle Ridge in the southwest reported 192 offences per 1,000 residents.
- Lowest crime rates: Strathcona Park, Citadel, and Diamond Cove each reported just 2 offences per 1,000 residents.
- Highest total crimes: The Beltline area recorded 1,143 total crimes, while Diamond Cove reported just one.
Challenges Ahead
While Calgary’s Crime Rate Drops Significantly, addressing underlying social issues like poverty remains critical to reducing social disruption and related crimes.
King also compared Calgary’s situation to the U.S., where violent crime is significantly higher due to greater gun prevalence. Americans are three times more likely to be harmed or killed by firearms compared to Canadians.
