Car theft in Ottawa fell in 2025: the Ottawa Police Service recorded 1,437 motor vehicle thefts, down 14% from 1,668 in 2024 and 32% below the 2023 peak of 2,111, according to its open data. Statistics Canada puts the Ottawa metro rate at 130 per 100,000 people, about 36% below the national 201. Thefts fell in 15 of Ottawa’s 24 wards.
Data: Ottawa Police Service, Criminal Offences Open Data, 2018–2025 (data to 31 December 2025, last updated 30 June 2026), category “Theft – Motor Vehicle”; Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Table 35-10-0177-01. Percentages, shares and rankings are our calculation from these data. Updated 23 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Ottawa Police Service recorded 1,437 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, down 14% from 1,668 in 2024 (OPS open data, updated 30 June 2026).
- Ottawa car thefts peaked at 2,111 in 2023; 2025 was 32% lower, but still 69% above the 850 recorded in 2018 (our calculation).
- Thefts fell in 15 of 24 city wards in 2025; the largest drops were in Orléans East-Cumberland (−48%) and Bay (−47%).
- The Ottawa census metropolitan area (CMA, Ontario part) had a motor vehicle theft rate of 130 per 100,000 in 2025, down 13% and about 36% below Canada’s 201 (Statistics Canada).
- 64% of 2025 thefts were in the evening or overnight time bands used by the Ottawa Police Service (our calculation).
Motor vehicle theft is the taking of a car, truck, motorcycle or other motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. Thefts of items from inside a vehicle are counted separately, as theft under or over $5,000.
How many cars are stolen in Ottawa each year?
Ottawa police recorded 1,437 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, the second yearly decline after a sharp rise in 2022 and 2023. The number more than doubled between 2021 (1,066) and 2022 (2,083), stayed above 2,000 in 2023 and then fell back in 2024 and 2025.
| Year | Motor vehicle thefts (OPS) | Change vs previous year | Share of all OPS criminal offences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 850 | – | 2.2% |
| 2019 | 889 | +5% | 2.1% |
| 2020 | 811 | −9% | 2.4% |
| 2021 | 1,066 | +31% | 2.9% |
| 2022 | 2,083 | +95% | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 2,111 | +1% | 4.4% |
| 2024 | 1,668 | −21% | 3.3% |
| 2025 | 1,437 | −14% | 2.8% |
Counts of offences in the “Theft – Motor Vehicle” category, Ottawa Police Service Criminal Offences Open Data. Changes and shares are our calculation. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ottawa Police Service.
The 2025 figure is the lowest since 2021, while total criminal offences recorded by the Ottawa Police Service rose slightly, from 50,588 to 51,146. For the full picture of all offence types, see our guide to Ottawa crime by neighbourhood.
Which Ottawa wards have the fewest car thefts?
West Carleton-March and Barrhaven East recorded the fewest motor vehicle thefts of Ottawa’s 24 wards in 2025, with 23 each, followed by Kanata South (31) and Capital (32). The table lists every ward, sorted from the lowest 2025 count.
| Ward | Thefts 2024 | Thefts 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ward 5 – West Carleton-March | 19 | 23 | +21% |
| Ward 24 – Barrhaven East | 39 | 23 | −41% |
| Ward 23 – Kanata South | 55 | 31 | −44% |
| Ward 17 – Capital | 41 | 32 | −22% |
| Ward 1 – Orléans East-Cumberland | 79 | 41 | −48% |
| Ward 15 – Kitchissippi | 48 | 43 | −10% |
| Ward 2 – Orléans West-Innes | 38 | 44 | +16% |
| Ward 6 – Stittsville | 33 | 47 | +42% |
| Ward 3 – Barrhaven West | 83 | 53 | −36% |
| Ward 14 – Somerset | 74 | 56 | −24% |
| Ward 20 – Osgoode | 41 | 56 | +37% |
| Ward 4 – Kanata North | 50 | 58 | +16% |
| Ward 21 – Rideau-Jock | 38 | 58 | +53% |
| Ward 22 – Riverside South-Findlay Creek | 65 | 61 | −6% |
| Ward 13 – Rideau-Rockcliffe | 90 | 62 | −31% |
| Ward 7 – Bay | 120 | 64 | −47% |
| Ward 9 – Knoxdale-Merivale | 56 | 65 | +16% |
| Ward 8 – College | 86 | 74 | −14% |
| Ward 11 – Beacon Hill-Cyrville | 88 | 74 | −16% |
| Ward 16 – River | 83 | 75 | −10% |
| Ward 19 – Orléans South-Navan | 94 | 86 | −9% |
| Ward 18 – Alta Vista | 85 | 98 | +15% |
| Ward 12 – Rideau-Vanier | 90 | 99 | +10% |
| Ward 10 – Gloucester-Southgate | 173 | 113 | −35% |
Motor vehicle thefts by ward, Ottawa Police Service Criminal Offences Open Data, 2024 and 2025 (one 2025 record has no valid ward). Counts, not rates: the open data do not include population. Changes are our calculation. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ottawa Police Service.
Because these are counts rather than rates, a ward with more homes, parking lots or commercial land will usually record more thefts. Gloucester-Southgate still had the highest count in 2025, but it also had one of the biggest drops, from 173 to 113.
Where did car theft fall the most in Ottawa?
Orléans East-Cumberland had the largest fall in car theft of any Ottawa ward in 2025, from 79 to 41 thefts (−48%), followed by Bay (120 to 64, −47%) and Kanata South (55 to 31, −44%). Barrhaven East (−41%), Barrhaven West (−36%), Gloucester-Southgate (−35%) and Rideau-Rockcliffe (−31%) also fell by more than 30%.
At neighbourhood level, 59 of the 110 neighbourhoods with at least one theft in 2024 or 2025 recorded fewer thefts in 2025, 41 recorded more and 10 were unchanged (our count). Among neighbourhoods with at least 15 thefts in 2024, the steepest declines were:
- Orléans Queenswood Heights: 26 to 4
- Barrhaven: 22 to 6
- Greenboro East: 26 to 9
- Bridlewood – Emerald Meadows: 28 to 10
- Hunt Club Upper – Blossom Park – Timbermill: 26 to 10
Increases were concentrated in some outer wards, where counts are small: Rideau-Jock (38 to 58), Stittsville (33 to 47) and Osgoode (41 to 56). The neighbourhoods with the most thefts in 2025 were large suburban areas in Orléans, Barrhaven, Stittsville and Riverside South, plus the East Industrial area, each with 50 to 62 thefts.
How does Ottawa compare with Toronto and the rest of Canada?
The Ottawa metro area has one of the lower car theft rates among large Canadian cities: 129.5 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people in 2025, compared with 237.9 in the Toronto metro area and 200.8 nationally, according to Statistics Canada.
| Area (2025) | Motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 | Rate 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa (CMA, Ont. part) | 129.5 | 148.7 | −13% |
| Gatineau (CMA, Que. part) | 102.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Toronto (CMA) | 237.9 | 324.7 | −27% |
| Montréal (CMA) | 197.3 | 277.5 | −29% |
| Ontario | 186.7 | 234.4 | −20% |
| Canada | 200.8 | 240.2 | −16% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01, released 22 July 2026. Changes are our calculation. n/a = not in our data set.
By our calculation, Ottawa’s rate is about 36% below the national rate, 31% below Ontario’s and 46% below Toronto’s. Statistics Canada counted 1,710 vehicle thefts in the Ottawa CMA, more than the 1,437 in the police open data, because the CMA covers a larger area and national counting rules differ. Compare the two cities in full in Ottawa vs Toronto crime, and see Toronto car theft by neighbourhood for the same analysis in Toronto.
When are cars stolen in Ottawa?
Most Ottawa car thefts in 2025 were reported as happening in the evening (527, or 37%) or at night (394, 27%), according to the time-of-day bands in the Ottawa Police Service data. Afternoon accounted for 293 thefts (20%) and morning for 223 (16%).
Thefts were spread fairly evenly across the week, from 185 on Sundays to 228 on Tuesdays. By police division, East recorded 626 thefts (44%), West 506 (35%) and Central 304 (21%); all three were down on 2024 (East −16%, West −14%, Central −10%).
How can I protect my car from theft in Ottawa?
The most effective steps against car theft are those that make a vehicle slower or harder to take, since 64% of Ottawa car thefts in 2025 happened in the evening or at night, when vehicles are usually parked and unattended.
- Park in a garage if you have one, and keep it closed and locked.
- Keep key fobs away from doors and windows, ideally in a signal-blocking pouch or box.
- Use a visible steering-wheel lock or a brake or pedal lock.
- Consider an aftermarket immobiliser or tracker, and ask your insurer whether it lowers your premium.
- Never leave the engine running unattended, even for a minute in winter.
- Report thefts immediately to the Ottawa Police Service so the vehicle can be flagged.
Our guide on how to protect your car from theft covers each step, and car theft in Canada compares every metro area.
Where can I check car thefts near my address in Ottawa?
The Ottawa Police Service publishes its offence data, including vehicle thefts by neighbourhood and ward, on its open data portal; the data run to the end of 2025. Our Ottawa crime map guide explains how to use it, and the Canada crime map gathers official figures by city. For overall safety numbers, see is Ottawa safe?
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Ottawa car theft FAQ
How many cars were stolen in Ottawa in 2025?
The Ottawa Police Service recorded 1,437 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, down 14% from 1,668 in 2024 and 32% below the 2023 peak of 2,111.
Is car theft going down in Ottawa?
Yes. Car theft fell in both 2024 and 2025, and in 15 of Ottawa’s 24 wards in 2025, although it remains above the level of 2018 to 2021.
Which Ottawa ward has the least car theft?
West Carleton-March and Barrhaven East each recorded 23 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, the fewest of the 24 wards. These are counts, not rates per resident.
Is car theft in Ottawa worse than in Toronto?
No. The Ottawa metro rate was 129.5 thefts per 100,000 people in 2025, about 46% below the Toronto metro rate of 237.9 (Statistics Canada).
Is 2026 car theft data available for Ottawa?
Not yet in open data. The Ottawa Police Service’s open data currently end on 31 December 2025; this guide will be updated when 2026 data are published.
Related: Ottawa crime by neighbourhood · Ottawa crime map · is Ottawa safe? · criminalité à Gatineau · safest cities in Ontario · crime rate in Canada by city. Data licence: Open Government Licence – Ottawa Police Service · most stolen cars in Canada. In an emergency call 911.