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This chart shows the cities with the highest crime rates in Alberta for July 2023.
Property crime escalating to extreme levels creates hidden waste and costs taxpayers, especially homeowners. See the breakdown below.
To see the latest you may want to visit - The Highest Crime Rates In Alberta – August 2023
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The cities with the highest property crime rates in July were Cold Lake, Wetaskawin, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Edmonton and Leduc.
If Cold Lake was at the halfway point of all cities in Alberta, residents would have only had 40 property crimes instead of 135!
If every recorded property crime had an average cost of $2,500 per incident how much extra did the residents in Cold Lake have to pay in July?
Cold Lake citizens paid an extra $381,000 over thirty days, or $15 each. On a per year basis, every resident would be losing $180.
If Wetaskawin had a level of crime at the pink line it would have only had 32 property crimes instead of 64. Taxpayers had to spend an additional $79,857, due to the higher crime rate cost to their homes, buildings and property.
If Grande Prairie was at the halfway point of all cities in Alberta, instead of being number three, residents would have only had 162 property crimes instead of 315. Instead, taxpayers spent an additional $381,000 from the costs of crime over thirty days from what residents in the bottom half spent.
If Red Deer was at the halfway point of all cities in Alberta instead of number four, residents would have only had 255 property crimes instead of 448. Instead, taxpayers had an expense of $481,363 higher than what residents in the bottom half of the cities had.
If Edmonton was at the halfway point of all cities in Alberta instead of number five, residents would have only had 2561 property crimes instead of 3866. Instead, taxpayers spent an additional $3,263,059 from the costs of crime compared to what residents in eight other cities spent.
If the eight highest crimes cities could get their crime rate as low as Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Brooks, Airdrie and others are able to do, this would reduce the volume of property crimes by over 2,549 and save taxpayers over $6,371,704. In just one month.
These high costs create extra threats to residents safety from abnormally high crime rates. It also will affect their insurance rates as insurers will catch on these places don't manage risk very well.
If other cities in the same regions can have some of the lowest crime rates in Alberta why can’t these places do the same?
Here is a list of the cities with their ranking among 164 municipalities on the left, then total property crimes, as well as the crime rate per 1,000 residents.
Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
9 Cold Lake 135 8.62
20 Wetaskiwin 64 5.06
21 Grande Prairie 315 4.91
27 Red Deer 448 4.44
39 Edmonton 3866 3.82
51 Leduc 107 3.14
52 Calgary* 3886 3.14
68 Spruce Grove 99 2.63
Half way point - Half of the cities in the province have a crime rate lower than 2.53 (pink line in charts)
76 Fort Saskatchewan 66 2.44
82 St. Albert 153 2.24
104 Sherwood Park 172 1.73
114 Brooks 23 1.54
116 Chestermere 31 1.50
120 Airdrie 104 1.40
140 High River 21 0.91
147 Beaumont 15 0.72
These are the most dangerous places in Alberta for July 2023, based on property crime rates per resident.
Four places had a crime rate that was right off the charts.
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Valleyview 22 13.15
MD of Opportunity 40 12.57
Bonnyville 71 11.09
St Paul 65 11.09
High Prairie 24 9.36
Cold Lake 135 8.62
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Edmonton had a crime rate 18% higher than Calgary, down from approximately 41% higher rate in June.
Edmonton’s crime rate per resident is based on July data, while Calgary’s crime rate is using May 2023 data.
Even if July data was available for Calgary, it is almost certain Calgary would have a much lower crime rate.
Comparing the Edmonton region chart with the Calgary region chart shows that the regions around Calgary also have a much lower crime rate.
Edmonton may be a great city to live in but is Edmonton safe?
Judging by the evidence of other cities in Alberta, including several within fifty kilometers of Edmonton, the Edmonton crime rate could be a lot lower.
Three cities close to Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Alberta, and Beaumont had some of the lowest crime rates in the province, so the Edmonton region itself is not the primary cause of the higher crime.
Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
11 Enoch Cree Nation 14 8.28
16 Leduc County 78 5.66
25 Calmar 10 4.58
39 Edmonton 3866 3.82
41 Redwater 8 3.70
47 Stony Plain 61 3.39
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The Calgary region had no cities, towns or counties off the charts or even high on the charts, like several other other regions had. This is a good news story, as it shows having a safer community is possible.
Here is how every community in the Calgary region stacked up.
Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
52 Calgary* 3886 3.14
91 Stoney Nakoda First Nation 8 2.02
116 Chestermere 31 1.50
118 Rocky View County 57 1.45
120 Airdrie 104 1.40
132 Okotoks 35 1.15
Red Deer Crime Rate - Central Alberta
The six highest crime locations in the Central Alberta region are below.
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Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
10 Rimbey 22 8.57
12 Barrhead 30 6.94
20 Wetaskiwin 64 5.06
26 Ponoka 33 4.50
27 Red Deer 448 4.44
33 Drayton Valley 30 4.15
Some Eastern Alberta towns and cities have the highest crime rate in Alberta per capita.
Property owners no longer wanting to subsidize the high cost of crime can leverage Crime Blocker to improve their home safety 10 times better.
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Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
2 MD of Opportunity 40 12.57
4 Bonnyville 71 11.09
5 St Paul 65 11.09
9 Cold Lake 135 8.62
15 Vegreville 35 6.13
19 Athabasca 14 5.07
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Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
1 Valleyview 22 13.15
6 High Prairie 24 9.36
14 High Level 20 6.33
17 Peace River 37 5.59
21 Grande Prairie 315 4.91
22 Fox Creek 8 4.88
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These regions have a much lower crime rate than other regions in Alberta overall.
Ranking out of 162 Communities | Place| Total Property Crimes | Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
18 Pincher Creek 19 5.22
30 Flagstaff County 16 4.28
32 Fort Macleod 13 4.18
62 Kneehill County 14 2.80
63 Cardston 10 2.79
69 Siksika 146 9 2.59
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These locations had the highest rural crime in Alberta.
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The highest rural crime was in the MD of Opportunity. The second highest was in Enoch Cree Nation, followed by Leduc County, Wood Buffalo, Flagstaff County, and Smoky Lake County.
A small town can quickly turn into one of the worst places to live for a high crime rate.
Several towns in Alberta had crime rates triple what the bottom 38 towns had.
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When you follow the money of who pays for the cost of crime it becomes clear that the homeowner is the one party who is financially penalized when crime levels rise.
Most other parties involved in crime prevention, community safety, the judicial system, or government don’t risk a dime if crime rates spike.
With almost no financial incentive to take responsibility for a city, town, or community becoming a dangerous place expecting real change on your timeframe is usually wishful thinking.
Change may unfold after a lengthy complex police investigation, but in the meantime property owners bear the risk and financial responsibilities, for as long as the evidence is being compiled and criminals are out on bail.
At the end of the day, no one else owns this problem to the point they will lose any career opportunities, profits, or budget if crime affects you.
Several resources are available on the Lightcatch website showing how to stop or reduce the risk of crime affecting your property.
Home Safety 1000% Better - Crime Blocker
The Best Home Security Cameras In 2023
Below are 162 cities, towns and counties ranked from the highest crime to the lowest.
The list shows the ranking in April, then the name of the Municipality, then the crimes per 1,000 residents, and the last number is the total reported crimes.
A 2 beside the name shows a community with less than 1,000 people.
Ranking | Municipality| Crimes per 1,000 Residents| Reported Crimes
1 Valleyview 22 13.15
2 MD of Opportunity 40 12.57
3 Smoky Lake2 11 11.41
4 Bonnyville 71 11.09
5 St Paul 65 11.09
6 High Prairie 24 9.36
7 Hay Lake 2092 8 9.06
8 Caroline2 4 8.62
9 Cold Lake 135 8.62
10 Rimbey 22 8.57
11 Enoch Cree Nation 14 8.28
12 Barrhead 30 6.94
13 Viking2 6 6.46
14 High Level 20 6.33
15 Vegreville 35 6.13
16 Leduc County 78 5.66
17 Peace River 37 5.59
18 Pincher Creek 19 5.22
19 Athabasca 14 5.07
20 Wetaskiwin 64 5.06
21 Grande Prairie 315 4.91
22 Fox Creek 8 4.88
23 Alexis 1332 4 4.81
24 Northern Sunrise County 9 4.61
25 Calmar 10 4.58
26 Ponoka 33 4.50
27 Red Deer 448 4.44
28 Unipouheos 1212 4 4.38
29 Wood Buffalo 311 4.34
30 Flagstaff County 16 4.28
31 Slave Lake 28 4.21
32 Fort Macleod 13 4.18
33 Drayton Valley 30 4.15
34 Smoky Lake County 17 4.14
35 Improvement District No. 9 4 3.98
36 Alberta Beach 4 3.93
37 Saddle Hills County 9 3.89
38 Lac La Biche 9 3.89
39 Edmonton 3866 3.82
40 Mayerthorpe 5 3.79
41 Redwater 8 3.70
42 Lac Ste. Anne County 40 3.67
43 Fairview 11 3.67
44 Hinton 36 3.67
45 Lamont 6 3.64
46 Brazeau County 25 3.48
47 Stony Plain 61 3.39
48 Olds 31 3.38
49 Bon Accord 5 3.27
50 Rycroft2 2 3.18
51 Leduc 107 3.14
52 Calgary* 3886 3.14
53 Bowden 4 3.13
54 Onoway 3 3.11
55 Whitecourt 30 3.09
56 County of Westaskawin 33 2.95
57 MD of Greenview 27 2.95
58 Woodlands County 14 2.94
59 Red Deer County 57 2.92
60 Devon 19 2.89
61 St. Paul County 17 2.82
62 Kneehill County 14 2.80
63 Cardston 10 2.79
64 Edson 23 2.75
65 Alix 2 2.72
66 MD of Bonnyville 35 2.71
67 Wainwright 17 2.71
68 Spruce Grove 99 2.63
69 Siksika 146 9 2.59
70 Improvement District No. 24 Wood Buffalo2 2 2.53
71 Parkland County 81 2.52
72 Sturgeon County 50 2.49
73 Cypress County 20 2.47
74 Yellowhead County 27 2.46
75 Sylvan Lake 39 2.44
76 Fort Saskatchewan 66 2.44
77 Lacombe County 32 2.39
78 Beaver County 14 2.37
79 Stettler 13 2.34
80 Penhold 8 2.30
81 Big Lakes County 13 2.29
82 St. Albert 153 2.24
83 Westlock 16 2.23
84 Clearwater County 26 2.19
85 Delburne 2 2.18
86 Castor 2 2.15
87 County of Grande Prairie 48 2.15
88 Lac La Biche County 16 2.09
89 Rocky Mountain House 14 2.07
90 Sexsmith 5 2.06
91 Stoney Nakoda First Nation 8 2.02
92 Three Hills 6 1.97
93 Coaldale 17 1.94
94 Coalhurst 6 1.89
95 Lamont County 7 1.86
96 Berwyn 1 1.86
97 Bentley 2 1.86
98 Claresholm 7 1.85
99 Sundre 5 1.83
100 Strathmore 25 1.82
101 Redcliff 10 1.79
102 Strathcona County 172 1.75
103 Jasper 8 1.74
104 Sherwood Park 172 1.73
105 Vermilion 7 1.71
106 Bassano 2 1.66
107 Banff 13 1.66
108 Gibbons 5 1.65
109 Athabasca County 13 1.65
110 Ponoka County 16 1.63
111 Special Area No. 4 2 1.61
112 County of Barrhead 10 1.59
113 Pincher Creek No. 9 5 1.57
114 Brooks 23 1.54
115 Thorhild County 5 1.54
116 Chestermere 31 1.50
117 Vermilion River County 12 1.45
118 Rocky View County 57 1.45
119 Legal 2 1.40
120 Airdrie 104 1.40
121 Westlock County 10 1.39
122 Mackenzie County 15 1.34
123 Beaverlodge 3 1.32
124 Wembley 2 1.32
125 Stettler County 7 1.32
126 Morinville 13 1.25
127 Bighorn No. 8 2 1.24
128 Canmore 17 1.21
129 Willow Creek No. 26 7 1.17
130 Lethbridge County 12 1.16
131 Newell County 9 1.16
132 Okotoks 35 1.15
133 Black Diamond 3 1.10
134 Camrose County 9 1.06
135 Foothills County 24 1.05
136 Bow Island 2 1.01
137 Clear Hills 3 0.95
138 Nanton 2 0.92
139 Wheatland County 8 0.91
140 High River 21 0.91
141 Crowsnest Pass 5 0.89
142 Drumheller 7 0.88
143 Innisfail 7 0.88
144 Mountain View County 11 0.84
145 Crossfield 3 0.83
146 Blackfalds 8 0.76
147 Beaumont 15 0.72
148 Wainwright No. 61 3 0.67
149 Cochrane 20 0.62
150 Didsbury 8 0.62
151 County of Forty Mile 2 0.56
152 Saddle Lake 125 2 0.50
153 Taber 4 0.47
154 Bashaw 0 0.00
155 Bruderheim 0 0.00
156 Eckville 0 0.00
157 O'Chiese 0 0.00
158 Samson Cree Nation 0 0.00
159 Ermineskin 138 0 0.00
160 Sunchild 2022 0 0.00
161 Louis Bull 138B 0 0.00
162 Beaver Lake 1312 0 0.00
163 Minburn County No. 27 0 0.00
If You Want A Safer Home
The best way to protect your loved ones and your property is to see property crime stopped before it happens.
For Property. Crime Blocker. 1000%+ Better.
There are over 300 Municipalities in Alberta counting Villages and Reserves. We gather all the RCMP data, Calgary Police Service Data and Edmonton Police Service data that is publicly available. The goal is to report on the major areas and trends, not every single village.
Of the 300 RCMP reported areas this report covers 163 of the larger ones. The crimes are then compared to the population to get the crimes per 1,000 residents.
This method helps make the easiest comparison between locations. This method is also what the FBI uses to look at crime across America.
Calgary* data is only available as recent as of May 2023
Calgary Property Crime Data
Commercial Robbery 23
Property Crimes 4308
Fraud (443)
Total 3886
Edmonton Property Crime Rate Data
Break and Enter Commercial 215
Break and Enter Residential 366
Graffiti 18
Mischief - Property 588
Property Damage 13
Robbery Commercial 29
Theft of Motor Vehicle 392
Theft Over $5000 115
Theft Under $5000 2130
Grand Total 3866
2- These are communities with a population lower than 1,000. They were not included in the crime ranking charts.
Independent police services like the Lethbridge Police Service, the Lacombe Police Service, and The Medicine Hat Police service do not seem to report the property crime rates publicly and are not included in these rankings. If there is a way to access data for these and any other police services please put a comment below..
Hythe property crime was included in the County of Grande Prairie's count. Grande Cache property crime was included in the MD of Greenview's count. Grande Centre was included in the Cold Lake data. Wabumum is included in Parkland County's county.
Due to the difficulties in collecting this data some locations in Alberta may not be included.