- Edmonton leads the province with 84 average theft cases per 100,000 residents, making it the theft red zone for people away for summer holidays.
- The top 10 cities revealed: Grande Prairie, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Wood Buffalo are in the top five, averaging over 52 incidents per 100,000 residents between 2019 and 2023.
- 5-Year Average Analysis: The data is based on an average calculated from per capita theft cases between 2019 and 2023.
A new study has revealed that Edmonton has the highest theft rates in Alberta.
The research by personal injury law firm Preszler Law Alberta analyzed theft cases per 100,000 people in Alberta’s 15 most populous cities between 2019 and 2023 via Statistics Canada. The five-year average rate of theft cases for each city was calculated to rank the cities most prone to theft this holiday season.
Edmonton leads with a theft rate of 84 per 100,000 residents.
Edmonton has the highest theft rate among Alberta’s cities, with an average of 84 theft cases per 100,000 residents. This is approximately 62% above the average of 52 for the top 10 cities. Between 2019 and 2023, the city recorded an average of 900 annual theft cases, the highest among the top 10 cities analyzed.
“These figures highlight the importance of heightened vigilance during the travel season in Edmonton,” says Jeffrey Preszler, spokesperson for Preszler Law Alberta.
Grande Prairie comes second with a theft rate of 65 per 100,000 residents.
Grande Prairie ranks second with a theft rate of 65 per capita. This stands 25% above the top 10 average rate of 52. The city recorded an average of 44 annual theft cases over the five-year period.
Calgary has the third-highest theft rate of 59 per 100,000 residents.
Calgary comes third with a rate of 59, approximately 13% above the average. The city recorded an average of 808 annual theft cases between 2019 and 2023, the second-highest among the top 10 cities analyzed.
Lethbridge has the fourth-highest rate with 56 theft cases per 100,000 residents.
Lethbridge ranks fourth with a theft rate of 56 per capita. This stands 8% above the average. The city recorded 58 average annual theft cases between 2019 and 2023.
Wood Buffalo’s theft rate takes the fifth spot with 55 per 100,000 residents.
Wood Buffalo is fifth with a 55 per capita theft rate. This approximately 6% above the average. Over five years, the city recorded an average of 40 theft cases annually.
Remaining cities ranked by 5-year average theft rate:
- Leduc – 50 per 100,000 Population
- Red Deer – 45 per 100,000 Population
- Spruce Grove – 42 per 100,000 Population
- Strathcona – 35 per 100,000 Population
- Medicine Hat – 32 per 100,000 Population
Commenting on the findings, Jeffrey Preszler of Preszler Law Alberta, said, “The study tells us how small cities like Grande Prairie, Leduc, and Medicine Hat have made it to the top 10. This indicates the lack of strict law enforcement in these areas.
Summer is a busy time for tourism, making it an attractive season for thieves as people travel. We urge everyone to stay vigilant. One way is to install smart video doorbell cameras to protect shopping parcels and items during this busy time of year.”
Table for Extended Results:
| Top 10 Alberta Cities with the Highest Five-Year Theft Rate (2019-2023) | |||
| Rank | Municipal | Average Theft Cases (2019-2023) | Average Theft Cases Per 100,000 Residents (2019-2023) |
| 1 | Edmonton | 900 | 84 |
| 2 | Grande Prairie | 44 | 65 |
| 3 | Calgary | 808 | 59 |
| 4 | Lethbridge | 58 | 56 |
| 5 | Wood Buffalo | 40 | 55 |
| 6 | Leduc | 18 | 50 |
| 7 | Red Deer | 48 | 45 |
| 8 | Spruce Grove | 17 | 42 |
| 9 | Strathcona | 26 | 35 |
| 10 | Medicine Hat | 21 | 32 |
The study was conducted by Preszler Law Alberta, a dedicated personal injury law firm, advocating for plaintiffs’ rights and securing fair compensation nationwide.
ENDS
P.S. If using this story, please link and credit to www.preszlerlawalberta.com.
Methodology
- Data Collection: 2019 to 2023 theft data per 100,000 population from Statistics Canada for Alberta’s cities.
- Average Calculation: The 5-year average of theft cases per capita was calculated per city.
- Ranking: The results were ranked to give us “Cities in Alberta with The Highest Theft Rates.”
Data Sources
- Population Data: https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/province/alberta
- Theft Cases Data: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3510018301&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.110&pickMembers%5B1%5D=2.73&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2019&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2023&referencePeriods=20190101%2C20230101
Data Set
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qjAL3w7ogc1Gw6dEdHV53g_Exvf63abLGdCfTXR5wOU/edit?gid=0#gid=0