A change in Canadian crime statistics means residents, property management and law enforcement should proactively adapt. The data is based on the quantity and severity of the crimes reported to police, which totaled nearly three million in 2017.
Prairie cities remain at the top of the most crime-ridden areas among Canada’s large communities. Saskatoon topped the list with a severity index of 115. To give this some perspective, the national average is 72.9. There are only three other Canadian metropolitan areas that scored above 100 – Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg.
Additional crime statistics looked at violent crime involving guns. There were over 7,700 reported crimes in 2017, which is an increase of 1.6% in overall severity over the previous year, mainly due to a 47% increase in gun-related crimes in Saskatchewan.
Even with the increase, statistics reveal Canada fares better than the United States. Crime levels in the U.S. are 43% higher. However, there are some instances when Canadian residents feel less safe than their American counterparts. In fact, 41% of Canadians are more afraid of crime/walking alone than Americans.
There are different measures multifamily and commercial properties, as well as construction sites can take to help alleviate some of that fear. The first and easiest deterrent is to enhance the lighting to eliminate hiding places and the ability for thieves to go undetected. However, that alone won’t be enough to stop some determined criminals.
Many properties add the presence of a physical security guard who can walk the property and escort tenants and guests to and from a desired location. For some businesses and apartments, this may be cost-prohibitive. Live video monitoring offers all the same benefits of a security guard, without the high costs and liabilities. This includes, proactive response, extensive site coverage, round-the-clock protection and a remote concierge that gives residents instant service when they need it. A live remote video security operator can also virtually accompany someone to their vehicle or building via two-way audio connections and IP surveillance cameras.
There is no one sure-fire way to eliminate all crime. There are, however, steps you can take to help prevent it. If you would like additional information about solutions for your multifamily, commercial or construction properties, contact us here.
