Police in Canada recorded 109,753 break and enter incidents in 2025, a rate of 264 per 100,000 people and 11% lower than in 2024. It was the third yearly decline in a row, and the rate is now 41% below 2015 and 77% below 1998. Break-ins fell in every province and territory, and the drop was the largest single contributor to the fall in Canada’s Crime Severity Index.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), incident-based crime tables by census metropolitan area and province. Figures are for the whole census metropolitan area (CMA) unless stated. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
Are break-ins going up or down in Canada?
Down, and clearly so. Statistics Canada reports that the break and enter rate fell 11% in 2025, the third consecutive annual decline. Over a longer period the change is striking: the 2025 rate was 41% lower than in 2015 and 77% lower than in 1998.
Break and enter covers forced or unlawful entry into a home, business, garage or other building with intent to commit an offence. It does not include theft from a car or a yard. Because break-ins carry a relatively high weight in the Crime Severity Index, their decline did more than any other offence to pull the national index down 5% to 75.0 in 2025.
The decline was broad. Statistics Canada notes the rate dropped in every province and territory.
Which Canadian cities have the highest break-in rates?
The table lists the metro areas with the highest break and enter rates in 2025. Most are mid-sized cities in the West and the Prairies, with Moncton the highest overall.
| Census metropolitan area | Break-ins per 100,000 (2025) | Rate in 2024 | Change (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moncton | 549 | not in our extract | – |
| Winnipeg | 502 | 637 | -21% |
| Lethbridge | 487 | not in our extract | – |
| Kamloops | 470 | not in our extract | – |
| Saskatoon | 451 | 524 | -14% |
| Red Deer | 434 | not in our extract | – |
| Chilliwack | 415 | not in our extract | – |
| Edmonton | 414 | 441 | -6% |
| Kelowna | 401 | 452 | -11% |
| Regina | 337 | 510 | -34% |
| Calgary | 310 | 317 | -2% |
| Canada | 264 | 293 | -11% |
Regina recorded the steepest fall among the cities above, about a third. Winnipeg’s rate also dropped by about a fifth, though it remains nearly twice the national level (our arithmetic).
Where are break-ins least common?
Several large and mid-sized metros in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia had rates well below the national average.
| Census metropolitan area | Break-ins per 100,000 (2025) | Change from 2024 (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|
| Barrie | 104 | -31% |
| Sherbrooke | 131 | – |
| Halifax | 151 | -19% |
| Greater Sudbury | 155 | -42% |
| Toronto | 169 | -8% |
| Ottawa (Ont. part) | 186 | -11% |
| St. Catharines–Niagara | 187 | -19% |
| Hamilton | 191 | -26% |
| Victoria | 192 | – |
| Montréal | 213 | -4% |
Size is not the deciding factor. Toronto, the largest metro, recorded 11,886 break-ins in 2025, yet its rate of 169 per 100,000 is well under the national figure. Vancouver (249) was one of the few large metros where the rate was essentially unchanged.
Which provinces have the most break-ins?
| Province | Break-ins per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | 545 |
| Manitoba | 499 |
| Alberta | 410 |
| New Brunswick | 393 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 312 |
| British Columbia | 280 |
| Prince Edward Island | 245 |
| Quebec | 205 |
| Nova Scotia | 204 |
| Ontario | 189 |
| Canada | 264 |
The pattern mirrors overall crime severity: Saskatchewan and Manitoba have the highest break-in rates and the highest provincial Crime Severity Index scores. Ontario had the lowest break-in rate of any province.
What should I keep in mind when comparing areas?
- Reported crime only. Statistics Canada’s 2019 victimization survey found that only about half of break-ins were reported to police. Areas where people report more will look worse than areas where they report less.
- Homes and businesses together. The figures combine residential, commercial and other break-ins. A high rate can reflect commercial premises in a downtown core rather than homes.
- Metro areas, not neighbourhoods. A CMA rate is an average across a whole region. Risk varies street by street, and we do not publish neighbourhood statistics.
- Small populations swing. In smaller metros a few dozen incidents can change the rate noticeably year to year.
It also helps to know that a break and enter does not only mean a house. Garages, sheds, storage lockers and businesses are all counted, so a high metro rate is not the same as a high risk of someone entering your home.
How can I reduce the risk of a break-in?
General, common-sense steps that make a home less attractive to a burglar:
- Lock doors and windows, including on upper floors and at the back of the house, and lock the door between an attached garage and the home.
- Use solid exterior doors with good-quality deadbolts and secure sliding doors with a bar or pin.
- Keep the outside of your home well lit and trim bushes that hide doors and windows.
- When you are away, make the home look occupied: use timers for lights, ask a neighbour to collect mail and avoid posting travel plans publicly.
- Do not leave ladders or tools outside, and keep valuables out of sight from windows.
- Record serial numbers and take photos of valuables to help police and insurers.
- Get to know your neighbours; people who look out for each other notice unusual activity.
Our guide to home security tips in Canada covers more, including what to do if you return to a break-in (leave, and call police from somewhere safe).
How do I check break-ins near a specific address?
- Look at your police service’s crime map or open data, such as Vancouver Police GeoDASH, Ottawa Police open data or Calgary Police statistics.
- Check our Canada crime map for metro-level context.
- Compare two areas over the same months and the same crime type.
- Read the limits: locations are often generalised to a block, and a handful of incidents can make a small area look high.
Want this on your phone?
Safety App Canada puts official crime data on a live map, plans walking routes that avoid high-risk areas and sends one-tap SOS alerts to the people you trust. Coming soon to Android and iPhone.
Break-ins in Canada FAQ
How many break-ins were there in Canada in 2025?
Police reported 109,753 break and enter incidents, a rate of 264 per 100,000 people, down 11% from 2024.
Which city has the highest break-in rate?
Among census metropolitan areas, Moncton had the highest rate in 2025 at 549 per 100,000, followed by Winnipeg (502) and Lethbridge (487).
Which city has the lowest break-in rate?
Barrie, at 104 per 100,000, followed by Sherbrooke (131) and Halifax (151).
Are break-ins lower than they used to be?
Yes. The 2025 rate was 41% below 2015 and 77% below 1998, and it was the third yearly decline in a row.
Do most break-ins get reported?
Not all. Statistics Canada’s 2019 survey found only about half of break-ins were reported to police, so official figures understate the true number.
Related: Home security tips · Car theft in Canada · Crime rate in Canada 2025 · Crime rate by province · How to check crime in your neighbourhood. Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.
