The Rise in Crime
The rise in crime within the Greater Toronto Area has been a cause for concern for many residents and law enforcement officials. According to recent statistics, the number of reported break-ins and thefts in the GTA has been steadily increasing over the past few years and shows no signs of slowing down. The police statistics below demonstrate this rise in crime throughout various municipalities across the GTA.
Crimes against persons are up 22% while crimes against property are up 17% when comparing 2021 to 2022.
According to Peel Region, auto theft has increased 32% from 2021 to 2022. Additionally in 2023, from January to May, there were 3,489 auto thefts, while during that same period in 2022, there were 2,336 auto thefts. Break and enters are also up 10% in Peel – increasing from 2,015 in 2021 to 2,241 in 2022.
The chart below, provided by Toronto Police, shows a significant spike in crime from 2022 to 2023. For example, thus far in 2023, there have been 12,422 assaults, which is a 17.2% increase from 2022.
The following video shows how easily and quickly burglars are able to enter a vehicle and steal it or the items inside it.
The following video from CBC demonstrates how quickly criminals are able to break into and steal cars.
Source: CBC International
There are several factors that may be contributing to the rise in breaking and entering in Toronto, one of which is the lack of effective deterrents in place to prevent burglaries.
To address these issues, a combination of strong security, law enforcement efforts, community involvement and individual responsibility is required to effectively reduce the number of burglaries in the city and make it a safer place to live.