Police-reported robbery statistics

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The nature and extent of robberies, as reported to police, has changed during the past decade. Commercial robberies have declined, while robberies occurring in residences and public transit facilities have increased. Firearms were used in 14% of robberies in 2008, compared with 20% a decade earlier.

Canadian police services reported about 32,000 incidents of robbery in 2008, accounting for 7% of all violent crimes. The police-reported rate of robbery was down 10% from 1999, although most of this decline occurred between 1999 and 2002.

Police-reported residential robberies, often referred to as "home invasions," increased 38% between 1999 and 2005. Since then, they have been relatively stable.

The vast majority of robberies were committed by young men. In 2008, almost 9 in 10 of those accused of robbery were male and nearly two-thirds were between the ages of 12 and 24.

Money was the most common item reported stolen (37% of all robberies), followed by personal accessories such as jewellery (18%). Electronic devices such as cell phones, personal music devices and computers, items that can often be sold for a quick profit, were next at 15%.

Three provinces drive decline in robbery rates

During the past decade, three provinces (Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba) have driven the overall decline in the rate of police-reported robbery. Between 1999 and 2008, the rate fell 30% in Quebec, 22% in British Columbia and 20% in Manitoba.

However, robberies increased in all of the remaining provinces over the past decade, with the largest increase reported in Newfoundland and Labrador. While the rate in this province more than doubled, it remained well below the national average.

Western Canada, particularly Manitoba, recorded the highest rates of police-reported robbery in the country. This is similar to the pattern for overall violent crime rates.

Among census metropolitan areas (CMAs), the highest rates were reported in the western CMAs of Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Vancouver and Edmonton. The only CMAs in Central and Eastern Canada with above-average robbery rates were Montréal, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Halifax and Hamilton.

Half of all robberies occur in an outdoor public location

In 2008, about half of all robberies were committed on the street or in another outdoor public location such as a parking lot or public transit facility. Another 39% took place in a commercial establishment such as a convenience store or bank. The remaining 10% were residential robberies.

The overall decline in robberies since 1999 resulted from a decrease in the rate of commercial robberies. In particular, bank robberies fell 38%, while robberies of gas stations and convenience stores were down 32%.

Rates of bank robberies in Vancouver and Abbotsford–Mission in 2008 were well above those in any other metropolitan area. Robberies of gas stations and convenience stores were highest in Montréal and Winnipeg.

Robberies occurring in public transit facilities have doubled since 1999, although they continue to account for a relatively low proportion of all incidents (4%). The highest rates of public transit robberies were reported in Edmonton and Montréal.

Home invasions

Although there is no Criminal Code offence of home invasion, it is generally defined as a residential robbery in which force was used to gain entry and the accused was aware that someone was home.

In 2008, police reported 2,700 home invasions — robberies that occurred in a private residence. The rate of home invasions rose 38% between 1999 and 2005 and has been relatively stable since.

Home invasions are committed by strangers less often than other types of robberies. In 2008, 63% of home invasions were committed by a stranger compared with 90% of other types of robbery.

Just over one-quarter of home invasions were committed by acquaintances, which include criminal relationships.

One in seven robberies involves a firearm

Between 1977 and 2002, the rate of robberies committed with a firearm declined steadily. Since then, the rate has remained stable.

A firearm was involved in 14% of all robberies in 2008, compared with 20% a decade earlier. Robberies committed with other weapons, most commonly knives, accounted for 29% of all incidents. No weapon was involved in the remaining 57%.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3302.

The Juristat article "Police-reported robbery in Canada, 2008," Vol. 30, no. 1 (85-002-X, free) is now available. From the Key resource module of our website under Publications, choose All subjects, then Crime and Justice and Juristat.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Information and Client Services (toll-free 1-800-387-2231; 613-951-9023), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.