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The Daily. Tuesday, December 19, 2000
The national rate of residential break-ins fell in 1999 to its lowest level in two decades, according to police data.
Police reported just under 200,000 residential break-ins in 1999, substantially fewer than the peak of nearly 250,000 in 1991. The rate of 649 break-ins for every 100,000 population in 1999 was down 11% from 1998, and was the lowest since 1978.
However, not all break-ins are reported to the police. A 1999 survey, in which 26,000 people were interviewed about their experiences of victimization, indicated a decline in reporting of break-ins to police between 1993 and 1999. Despite this decrease in reporting, the victimization data also appear to show a decline in the incidence of break-ins, although to a lesser degree.
One possible reason for the decline in reporting may be an increase in insurance deductible amounts in recent years, resulting in fewer minor break-ins being reported to police. Insurance industry data indicate that, in 1994, the deductible amount for 52% of homeowner policies was $200. By 1998, 53% had a deductible of $500. At the same time, the value of stolen or damaged property has remained about the same.
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Residential break-ins accounted for 62% of the police-reported total in 1999. A further 26% of break-ins occurred at businesses and the remaining 12% at other types of properties such as garages and storage facilities.
According to police-reported data, property was stolen in 82% of residential break-ins in 1999. The main target in residential break-ins was electronic equipment such as televisions, VCRs, stereos and computers. Damaged property was also reported in 80% of break-ins. The most common time of year for break-ins was the summer months. Police reported the fewest break-ins between January and May.
Among the provinces, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of residential break-ins, followed by Quebec. The lowest rates were in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Montréal had the highest rate among the nine largest Census Metropolitan Areas, and Toronto the lowest.
Residential break and enter offences by province and territory
1999
No. | Rate(1) | Percentage change in rate 1994 to 1999 | |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | 197,781 | 649 | -17.1 |
Newfoundland | 2,539 | 469 | 17.6 |
Prince Edward Island | 265 | 192 | -44.0 |
Nova Scotia | 5,436 | 578 | 7.7 |
New Brunswick | 3,156 | 418 | -11.1 |
Quebec | 62,900 | 856 | -7.0 |
Ontario | 56,180 | 488 | -22.4 |
Manitoba | 8,907 | 779 | -23.6 |
Saskatchewan | 9,960 | 969 | -3.4 |
Alberta | 14,525 | 490 | -30.3 |
British Columbia | 33,004 | 820 | -24.1 |
Yukon | 311 | 1,015 | 1.3 |
Northwest Territories | 410 | 985 | ... |
Nunavut | 188 | 695 | ... |
1 | Rates per 100,000 population. |
... | Data not applicable. |
Residential break and enter offences by Census Metropolitan Area
1999
Number | Rate(1) | Percentage change in rate 1994 to 1999 | |
---|---|---|---|
Population 500,000 and over | |||
Montréal | 33,547 | 976 | -1.8 |
Vancouver | 18,259 | 905 | -29.8 |
Winnipeg | 5,266 | 777 | -32.9 |
Québec | 4,530 | 658 | -21.3 |
Ottawa | 5,089 | 629 | -26.2 |
Calgary | 5,424 | 581 | -16.9 |
Hamilton | 3,512 | 528 | -5.2 |
Edmonton | 4,333 | 466 | -49.1 |
Toronto | 17,355 | 371 | -23.7 |
Population 100,000 to 499,999 | |||
Regina | 3,171 | 1,592 | -22.0 |
Saskatoon | 2,441 | 1,055 | -6.4 |
Sherbrooke | 1,486 | 970 | -28.1 |
Chicoutimi-Jonquière | 1,215 | 826 | -13.6 |
Trois-Rivières | 1,137 | 802 | -28.6 |
Halifax | 2,733 | 775 | 1.9 |
Hull | 1,974 | 771 | -5.1 |
London | 2,956 | 706 | -12.5 |
Sudbury | 1,104 | 688 | -31.9 |
Victoria | 1,956 | 619 | -22.0 |
Kitchener | 2,675 | 609 | 2.9 |
St. Catharines-Niagara | 2,271 | 537 | -36.6 |
Saint John | 713 | 487 | -16.0 |
Windsor | 1,409 | 470 | -3.5 |
Thunder Bay | 568 | 448 | -53.1 |
1 | Rates are calculated per 100,000 population. |
According to victimization data, households in urban areas were more at risk of a break-in (52 break-ins per 1,000 homes) than rural households (32 per 1,000 homes). As well, rates were also slightly higher for those who rented their home (60 break-ins per 1,000 homes) than for those who owned (44 per 1,000 homes).
Police-reported data can also shed some light on residential robberies, some of which could be considered "home invasions." Although no such offence exists in the Criminal Code, home invasion is generally defined as forced entry into a home with the intent to rob or inflict violence on the inhabitants. It is possible to estimate trends and characteristics of this type of crime by examining the number of robberies - defined as stealing using violence or the threat of violence - reported by police to have occurred in a private residence, as well as the 1% of residential break-ins with an associated violent offence.
Data from a sample of 106 Canadian police forces, including those of Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, show that this type of offence has been declining over the past five years. While this sample of police forces is not nationally representative, it does encompass 41% of the annual national volume of crime.
The number of robberies reported by police to have occurred in a private residence has declined by 12% since 1995. When this definition is widened to also include any break and enter involving a violent offence, the numbers have also declined since 1995, although by a smaller margin (-2%).
Fifty-eight percent of all persons accused of committing a residential robbery were strangers to the victim and 24% were casual acquaintances. Fifty-eight percent of residential robbery incidents involved a weapon, usually a firearm (22%) or a knife (21%).
The national police-reported rate of break-ins at businesses has also been declining since 1991. Last year, 83,950 businesses reported break-ins to police, producing a rate of 275 for every 100,000 population. This rate represented a 43% decline since the peak in 1991.
Among businesses, the most frequently stolen items were consumable goods such as liquor and cigarettes, followed by cash, machinery and tools, and office equipment.
According to the Insurance Information Centre of Canada, which represents about 80% of the industry, property losses associated with break-ins, both residential and business, cost the insurance industry about $366 million in 1998/99.
In 1999, 38% of those charged with breaking and entering were youths aged 12 to 17. Of all major offences, only arson (for which 45% of persons charged were youths) and motor vehicle theft (40%) had a higher proportion of youth involvement.
Repeat offenders, those having one or more prior convictions, accounted for 43% of break-in cases in youth court. Repeat offenders were treated more harshly by the courts than first-time offenders. In 1998/99, 17% of first-time break-in offenders received custody, compared with 58% of repeat offenders.
Juristat: Break and enter, 1999, Vol. 20, no. 13 (85-002-XIE, $8/$70; 85-002-XPE, $10/$93) is now available. See How to order products.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Information and Client Services (613-951-9023; 1-800-387-2231), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.