It is a dubious distinction for Alberta, which posted the largest spike in crime in Canada last year – the numbers were released Wednesday.
According to results released by Statistics Canada, there was an 18 percent spike in the crime severity index in Alberta – the index measures both severity and volume of crime. Edmonton saw a 16 percent jump.
Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht pointed to a rise in break-ins, and thefts from, and of, vehicles.
“Our rates are driven by property crime and they are significant,” Knecht said.
“I talked about it 18 months ago, we said there seems to be a correlation between the drop in the price of oil and the increase in crime in Edmonton.”
Knecht called the numbers ‘disappointing’, and said with economic factors, there’s very little police can do about the increase.
When it comes to property crime, police reminded Edmontonians to keep valuables out of sight, and vehicles locked up.
With files from Danelle Boivin
