---
title: "Ottawa police report rise in shoplifting and overall crime in 2026"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-police-property-crime-2026-10-29"
last_updated: "2026-10-29T14:05:35.174Z"
---

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](/on/ottawa-2026/tracker). Residents can follow what Ottawa City Council decides on the police budget there.

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