Victoria, BC – In response to a number of requests from media and the public, VicPD has released crime statistics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statistics are broken down by call category. The time period for these statistics is March 15-May 2, with a comparison between 2019 and 2020. These numbers reflect crime reports, which are actual reports generated by officers who attend to a call for service. These statistics reflect crime in Victoria and Esquimalt.
Check well being calls are the only category which counts calls for service, rather than crime reports. Mental health related calls are not considered a crime statistic, but are included in the chart to demonstrate the numbers in that category.
A table of the crime and call statistics is below.
|
Call Category |
March 15-May 2, 2019 | March 15-May 2, 2020 |
% Change |
|
Business Break & Enter |
12 |
80 |
567% |
|
Theft Of Auto |
26 | 37 |
42% |
|
Theft From Auto |
238 | 301 |
26% |
|
Mischief |
187 | 262 |
40% |
| Robbery | 16 | 25 | 56% |
| Sexual Assault | 20 | 11 | -45% |
| Assault | 186 | 192 | 3% |
| Domestic Assault | 3 | 2 | -33% |
| Domestic Dispute | 122 | 147 | 20% |
| Check Well Being* | 596 | 548 | -8% |
| Impaired Driving | 37 | 30 | -19% |
| Mental Health Related | 79 | 95 | 20% |
*Check Well Being numbers refer to calls for service, not crime reports.
Property crime, including business break and enters and theft from auto, have increased over this time period. It is important to remember to secure your valuables, and to leave nothing in plain sight within a vehicle. It is also recommended that you keep track of serial numbers for valuable items, by photograph or other means. In the event you are the victim of property crime, a recorded serial number will assist VicPD in returning recovered stolen property.
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