Ottawa police report rise in shoplifting and overall crime in 2026
The Ottawa Police Service reported 29,920 property crimes between January and mid-October 2026, up from 28,620 in the same period last year. Theft under $5,000 rose 14 per cent, while break-and-enter and vehicle theft both fell.
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The Ottawa Police Service counted 29,920 property crimes between January 1 and October 19, 2026, CTV News reported, up from 28,620 in the same period in 2025. The service published the figures in what it calls a Safety Snapshot.
Theft under $5,000 up 14 per cent
CTV News reported that police counted 18,710 cases of theft $5,000 and under in the first 10 months of 2026, up from 16,470 cases in the same period in 2025. Police said that category includes shoplifting. That is a 14 per cent increase.
Ottawa Police say said the crime map for theft $5,000 and under shows that Rideau-Vanier had the most reports in the city at 4,153. Somerset ward recorded 2,049 cases, Kitchissippi 1,315 and Bay ward 1,156.
Break-and-enter and vehicle theft fell
CTV News reported that break-and-enter offences fell 23 per cent to 1,560 cases between January 1 and October 19. Vehicle thefts fell 28 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.
Both had been a concern in recent years. The 28 per cent drop in vehicle theft follows provincial and federal government action on car theft in 2025.
Overall crime up from 2025
CTV News reported that 45,890 crimes and criminal offences were reported to Ottawa police between January 1 and October 19, up from 41,430 in the same period in 2025. Police reported a 26 per cent increase in charges involving sexual violations, at 908 offences in the first 10 months of the year. Assaults rose five per cent.
What this means for Ottawa residents
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe made public safety one of his second-term priorities. According to the Ottawa Citizen, he promised to hire 200 more police officers, 100 more paramedics and 50 more firefighters, and said police budget increases would be tied to performance outcomes including guns and gangs, drugs and intimate partner violence.
Those commitments are tracked at /on/ottawa-2026/tracker. Residents can follow what Ottawa City Council decides on the police budget there.
Questions this story answers
How many property crimes were reported in Ottawa in 2026?
CTV News reported that the Ottawa Police Service counted 29,920 property crimes between January 1 and October 19, 2026, up from 28,620 in the same period in 2025, according to the service's Safety Snapshot.
Did shoplifting increase in Ottawa in 2026?
CTV News reported that there were 18,710 cases of theft $5,000 and under between January 1 and October 19, 2026, up from 16,470 in the same period in 2025. Police said that category includes shoplifting. That is a 14 per cent increase.
Which Ottawa ward had the most theft reports in 2026?
According to CTV News, which cited the Ottawa Police Service's crime map, Rideau-Vanier had 4,153 reports of theft $5,000 and under so far in 2026. Somerset ward had 2,049 reports, Kitchissippi had 1,315 and Bay ward had 1,156.
Did break-and-enter crimes increase in Ottawa in 2026?
CTV News reported that break-and-enter crimes fell 23 per cent in 2026, with 1,560 break-and-enter offences recorded between January 1 and October 19. That is a drop compared to the same period in 2025, when the Ottawa Police Service counted more than 2,000 such offences. Police said the overall property crime count still rose because of the increase in theft under $5,000.
Did vehicle theft fall in Ottawa in 2026?
CTV News reported that vehicle thefts fell 28 per cent between January 1 and October 19, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025. Ottawa had been one of the cities with the highest vehicle theft rates in Canada in recent years. The 28 per cent drop is part of the same Ottawa Police Service Safety Snapshot that recorded the rise in shoplifting and theft under $5,000.
How many total crimes were reported to Ottawa police in 2026?
CTV News reported that 45,890 crimes and criminal offences were reported to Ottawa police between January 1 and October 19, 2026, up from 41,430 in the same period in 2025. The Ottawa Police Service published the figures in its Safety Snapshot. Not every reported crime leads to a charge, and the snapshot records only offences reported to police.
Did sexual violence reports change in Ottawa in 2026?
CTV News reported that Ottawa police recorded a 26 per cent increase in charges involving sexual violations, with 908 offences reported between January 1 and October 19, 2026. Assaults rose five per cent over the same period. The Ottawa Police Service published these numbers as part of its Safety Snapshot, which covers all crimes reported to the service, not just those resulting in charges.
Where can I find more information about public safety in Ottawa?
The Ottawa Police Service publishes its Safety Snapshot with crime statistics. Residents can also follow what Ottawa City Council and Mayor Sutcliffe decide on public safety at /on/ottawa-2026/tracker.
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