Yes, Cape Breton is one of the safer places in Canada on official measures: the Cape Breton Regional Police Service area, which includes Sydney, had a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 44.23 in 2025, about 41% below Canada’s 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate was 3,534 incidents per 100,000 people, 5% lower than in 2024 and about 37% below the national 5,585.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Table 35-10-0186-01 (Crime Severity Index, police services in Atlantic Canada) and Table 35-10-0178-01 (incidents by violation, Atlantic police services), row “Cape Breton Region, Nova Scotia, municipal”. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 28 October 2026.
All figures are for calendar year 2025, the latest full year Statistics Canada has published. They cover the area policed by the Cape Breton Regional Police Service (CBRPS), the municipal police of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, with stations in Sydney, Glace Bay, New Waterford, Sydney Mines and Membertou. People searching “is Sydney, NS safe?” are looking at this same police area.
Key facts
- The Cape Breton Regional Police area had a Crime Severity Index of 44.23 in 2025, up slightly from 43.11 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0186-01).
- That is about 41% below the national CSI of 75.0 and about 39% below Nova Scotia’s 73.0 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- Cape Breton Regional Police recorded 3,817 Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) in 2025, a rate of 3,534 per 100,000 people.
- Cape Breton’s violent crime rate was 761 per 100,000 in 2025, about 47% below Canada’s 1,443 (our calculation).
- Shoplifting rose about 72% in 2025, from 332 to 571 incidents, the main exception to the low numbers.
- Cape Breton’s weighted clearance rate was 42.13 in 2025, above the national 36.64.
Is Cape Breton safer than other Atlantic cities?
Cape Breton had the lowest crime severity of the Atlantic areas we compare: its 2025 CSI of 44.2 was well below Halifax (68.6), Saint John (70.0), St. John’s (79.2), Charlottetown (80.1), Fredericton (80.5) and Moncton (105.6). The Crime Severity Index is a Statistics Canada measure that weights each police-reported crime by its seriousness (Canada 2006 = 100), so a few serious offences count for more than many minor ones. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index (2025) | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Breton Region (police service) | 44.2 | +3% | 3,534 |
| Halifax (CMA) | 68.6 | −6% | 6,094 |
| Saint John (CMA) | 70.0 | +20% | 4,556 |
| St. John’s (CMA) | 79.2 | −2% | 6,163 |
| Charlottetown (police service) | 80.1 | −7% | 7,022 |
| Fredericton (CMA) | 80.5 | +7% | 5,734 |
| Moncton (CMA) | 105.6 | +11% | 7,561 |
| Nova Scotia (province) | 73.0 | −3% | 6,147 |
| Canada (all police services) | 75.0 | −5% | 5,585 |
Cape Breton and Charlottetown are police-service figures; the other cities are census metropolitan areas (CMAs), which include surrounding suburbs. Source: Statistics Canada Tables 35-10-0186-01 and 35-10-0026-01.
Cape Breton is not a census metropolitan area, so Statistics Canada does not publish a metro figure for it; the police-service figure is the closest official measure for Sydney and the surrounding communities. In fact, Cape Breton’s 2025 CSI was lower than that of every one of Canada’s CMAs, the lowest of which was Barrie at 46.9 (our comparison; police-service and CMA figures are not identical measures). Compared with Halifax, the province’s capital, Cape Breton’s CSI was about 36% lower and its crime rate about 42% lower. For the regional picture, see crime in Atlantic Canada and the crime rate by province.
Is crime in Cape Breton going up or down?
Crime severity in Cape Breton has been low and broadly falling for a decade: the CSI dropped from 60.50 in 2015 to 44.23 in 2025, about 27% lower, while the national CSI rose about 7% over the same period (Statistics Canada; our calculation). The small 2025 increase, from 43.11 to 44.23 (about +3%), followed the lowest value of the decade in 2024.
| Year | Cape Breton CSI | Violent CSI | Non-violent CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 60.5 | 61.3 | 60.1 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 47.4 | 45.5 | 48.0 | 72.0 |
| 2017 | 58.7 | 65.6 | 56.1 | 73.6 |
| 2018 | 49.5 | 50.1 | 49.1 | 75.6 |
| 2019 | 51.4 | 63.1 | 47.0 | 79.7 |
| 2020 | 53.7 | 70.8 | 47.4 | 73.9 |
| 2021 | 58.8 | 85.6 | 48.5 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 54.5 | 72.3 | 47.8 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 44.8 | 51.0 | 42.6 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 43.1 | 59.0 | 37.1 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 44.2 | 58.6 | 38.9 | 75.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0186-01 (Cape Breton Region, municipal) and Table 35-10-0026-01 (Canada).
Cape Breton’s violent CSI peaked at 85.55 in 2021 and was 58.55 in 2025, about 40% below the national violent CSI of 97.19. The non-violent CSI, which covers offences such as theft and mischief, was 38.88, about 42% below Canada’s 66.78 (our calculation). Because the area records only about 3,800 incidents a year, a few serious cases can move the index by several points.
What kind of crime is most common in Cape Breton?
Property crime is the most common type of crime in Cape Breton: 2,316 of the 3,817 Criminal Code incidents recorded by Cape Breton Regional Police in 2025 (about 61%, our calculation) were property crimes, and 822 (about 22%) were violent incidents.
| Offence | Cape Breton incidents (2025) | Cape Breton rate per 100,000 (2025) | Cape Breton rate per 100,000 (2024) | Canada rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code offences (excl. traffic) | 3,817 | 3,534 | 3,735 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 822 | 761 | 803 | 1,443 |
| Homicide | 3 | 2.78 | 2.77 | 1.61 |
| Property crime | 2,316 | 2,144 | 2,238 | 3,141 |
| Breaking and entering | 104 | 96 | 87 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 101 | 94 | 86 | 201 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 571 | 529 | 307 | 502 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0178-01 (Cape Breton Region, municipal) and the 2025 national release. Homicide is incidents for Cape Breton and victims for Canada.
- Violent crime is about half the national rate. The violent crime rate of 761 per 100,000 was about 47% below Canada’s 1,443 and about 5% lower than in 2024. See violent crime in Canada by city.
- Homicide counts are small. Cape Breton Regional Police recorded three homicides in both 2024 and 2025; the rate of 2.78 per 100,000 is above the national 1.61, but with three cases a year the rate is not a meaningful trend. See the homicide rate in Canada by city.
- Break-ins are rare. 104 incidents, a rate of 96 per 100,000, about 63% below Canada’s 262, although up about 11% from 2024. See break-ins in Canada.
- Car theft is low. 101 vehicles were stolen in 2025, a rate of 94 per 100,000, about 53% below the national 201. See car theft in Canada.
- Shoplifting jumped. Shoplifting rose from 332 to 571 incidents (about +72%), taking the rate to 529 per 100,000, about 5% above Canada’s 502. See shoplifting in Canada.
Based on the incident count and the rate, the population covered by Cape Breton Regional Police was about 108,000 people in 2025 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
Is Cape Breton safe to live in and visit?
Cape Breton is safe to live in and visit for most people: in 2025 its crime severity, violent crime rate, break-in rate and car-theft rate were all well below the Canadian averages. The practical risks are everyday ones such as theft and mischief, so lock cars, keep valuables out of sight and use basic home security tips. Visitors touring the island can follow our safety tips for tourists in Canada.
Cape Breton Regional Police solved more crime than average: its weighted clearance rate (the severity-weighted share of incidents solved by police) was 42.13 in 2025, down from 45.22 in 2024 but above the 36.64 for Canada. Read more in how many crimes are solved in Canada.
How reliable are these figures?
- They are police-reported incidents only. In 2019 only about 29% of victimizations in Canada were reported to police.
- Smaller areas swing more. With about 3,800 incidents a year, a handful of serious cases can change Cape Breton’s CSI noticeably.
- The CSI is not a complete safety score, as Statistics Canada notes. See the official 2025 release and the Atlantic police services CSI table.
How do I check crime near a specific address in Cape Breton?
- Follow police news. The Cape Breton Regional Police media releases report incidents by community. CBRPS does not publish a public street-level crime map.
- Use our map. The Canada Crime Map gathers official figures by city; our crime rate in Canada by city ranking puts Cape Breton in context.
- Compare two areas the same way. Use the same offence types and period, and follow the steps in how to check crime in your neighbourhood.
- Visit at different times. Downtown Sydney streets with bars and shops record more incidents than quiet residential streets.
Want this on your phone?
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Cape Breton crime FAQ
Is Sydney, Nova Scotia safe?
Yes, by official measures. Sydney is policed by the Cape Breton Regional Police Service, whose area had a 2025 Crime Severity Index of 44.2, about 41% below the Canadian average of 75.0 (Statistics Canada).
What is the crime rate in Cape Breton?
Cape Breton Regional Police recorded 3,534 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, down 5% from 3,735 in 2024 and about 37% below the national rate of 5,585 (Statistics Canada).
Is Cape Breton safer than Halifax?
Yes, on the official measures. Cape Breton’s 2025 CSI was 44.2 against 68.6 for the Halifax CMA, and its crime rate was 3,534 against 6,094 per 100,000. See the Halifax crime map.
Is crime in Cape Breton going up?
Only slightly. The CSI rose about 3% in 2025, from 43.11 to 44.23, after the lowest value of the decade in 2024; it is still about 27% below the 2015 level of 60.50.
How do I report a non-emergency crime in Cape Breton?
Call the Cape Breton Regional Police non-emergency line at 902-563-5151, or report minor offences such as theft under $5,000 or mischief online at cbrps.ca. Our guide on how to report a crime in Canada explains the options.
Related: crime in Atlantic Canada · is Halifax safe? · is Charlottetown safe? · is Moncton safe? · is Saint John safe? · safest cities in Canada · Canada Crime Map. In an emergency call 911.