- Motor Vehicle Theft surges 996.58%: From 234 cases in 2019 to 2,566 in 2023.
- Extortion and Shoplifting follow behind: Extortion cases are up by 540%, and shoplifting over $5,000 increased by 328%.
- Analysis of top 10 violations: The study highlights the fastest-growing crimes in Canada.
A new study has revealed Motor Vehicle Theft has the fastest-growing crime rate in Canada.
The research by personal injury law firm Preszler Law analyzed 77 crime rates between 2019 and 2023, via the Government of Canada website. It calculated the five-year percentage change for each violation type, to identify the offenses that have surged the most.
Motor vehicle theft has risen the highest by 996.58%. It has increased from 234 cases in 2019 to 2,566 cases in 2023. The motor vehicle theft cases skyrocketed by 70% between 2022 and 2023. “As dealerships roll out discounts during the year-end, most people are eager to grab a great deal. However, new car buyers should also consider taking proactive measures to safeguard their vehicles from thieves.”, said Jeffrey Preszler, spokesperson of Preszler Law.
Extortion takes the second spot with a 540% jump in five years. The cases rose from 40 in 2019 to 256 in 2023. Between 2019 and 2020 alone, Canada saw an almost 140% increase in extortion cases, the highest jump in one year.
In third place is Shoplifting over $5,000 growing by 328.57%. High-value shoplifting incidents increased from 7 in 2019 to 30 in 2023. Shoplifting incidents declined by 38% between 2021 and 2022, immediately followed by a sharp rise of 275% between 2022 and 2023.
Cannabis act – total importation and exportation – has risen by 316.67%, the fourth highest in Canada. Violations related to the importation and exportation under the Cannabis Act rose from 6 in 2019 to 25 in 2023. These violations rose by 4700% between 2019 and 2020, the highest recorded jump in one year.
Arson – Damage to Property – rounds out the top 5 with a 300% increase. Arson cases causing property damage increased from 14 in 2019 to 56 in 2023. These incidents rose by 229% between 2022 and 2023, the highest recorded jump in five years.
Remaining Violations with Significant Increases:
- Identity Theft:
- Percentage Growth: 200.00%
- Increase: 148 cases
- Traffic Stolen Goods over $5,000 (including intent):
- Percentage Growth: 150.00%
- Increase: 18 cases
- Break and Enter to Steal Firearm:
- Percentage Growth: 150.00%
- Increase: 3 cases
- Commit Offence for Criminal Organization:
- Percentage Growth: 125.00%
- Increase: 5 cases
- Attempts, Conspiracies, Accessories:
- Percentage Growth: 113.04%
- Increase: 26 cases
Commenting on the findings, Jeffrey Preszler of Preszler Law stated, “As these violations continue to surge, it is imperative for individuals and businesses to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves. File a report of the stolen vehicle within 24 hours at the nearest jurisdiction.
Implementing advanced security systems, staying informed about emerging threats, and collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies are essential steps we can all take to safeguard our communities during these challenging times.”
| Canada’s 5-Year Crime Growth 2019-2023 | |||||||
| Violation | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Total Increase | Increase % |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 234 | 197 | 602 | 1,508 | 2,566 | 2,332 | 996.58% |
| Extortion | 40 | 96 | 109 | 178 | 256 | 216 | 540.00% |
| Shoplifting over $5,000 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 30 | 23 | 328.57% |
| Cannabis Act – Total importation and exportation | 6 | 288 | 21 | 15 | 25 | 19 | 316.67% |
| Arson – damage to property | 14 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 56 | 42 | 300.00% |
| Identity Theft | 74 | 310 | 156 | 144 | 222 | 148 | 200.00% |
| Traffic stolen goods over $5000 (including intent) | 12 | 30 | 27 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 150.00% |
| Break and enter to steal firearm | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 150.00% |
| Commit offence for criminal organization | 4 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 125.00% |
| Attempts, conspiracies, accessories | 23 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 49 | 26 | 113.04% |
ENDS
P.S. If using this story, please link and credit to www.preszlerlaw.com.
Methodology
- The study analyzed a set of 77 distinct violation categories from 2019 to 2023, sourced from the Government of Canada.
- For each violation type, the total increase in cases over the five-year period was calculated, along with the corresponding percentage growth.
- Violations were ranked based on their total increase and percentage rise to identify the most significant and rapidly escalating criminal trends.
Data Sources
