Crime decreases significantly in 2024 in all areas of the city

Crime in Lethbridge decreased by 16 per cent in 2024, resulting in an 18 per cent reduction in the city’s Crime Severity Index (CSI).

 The one-year reduction in crime is significant and consistent with an overall downward trend the past five years.

Crime peaked in Lethbridge in 2019 with 16,969 criminal violations, but has decreased every year since then, to 12,939 incidents in 2024 – a 24 per cent drop in incidents and 12 per cent reduction in CSI.

The year-end data was presented Wednesday during the monthly meeting of the Lethbridge Police Commission. 

In 2024, overall person crime dropped 11 per cent, while overall property crime dropped 24 per cent compared to 2023. 

Lethbridge Police divide the city into four patrol zones – downtown, north, south and west –and crime reductions were recorded in all areas. 

The most significant decrease was a 25 per cent per cent reduction in crime violations in west Lethbridge, followed by 17 per cent downtown, 15 per cent in the south and nine per cent in the north.

“I am extremely proud of the work our officers and civilians are doing every day to contribute to a safe community for all,” said Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh. “Over the past five years crime in the city has been trending down and the significant decrease in 2024 further highlights that positive trajectory.” 

The reduction in crime has also led to an increase in the perception of safety. In the 2024 LPS Community Survey, 70 per cent of respondents reported they felt safe in the community – up from 65 per cent in 2023. 

Mehdizadeh noted while the reduction in crime is encouraging and he’s pleased to see citizens feeling safer, police are keenly aware of the ongoing challenges impacting the community and will remain vigilant in both proactive and targeted enforcement efforts to address crime and social disorder. 

One of the major drivers of the reduction in crime, is the Service’s use of Comp Stat – a data driven model where analytics are used to identify high-crime areas, prolific offenders and determine the best use of police resources. 

As a result of the Comp Stat program, police have more effectively deployed resources, including increased offender condition checks, emerging crime hot spot checks and problem location checks – efforts that are all correlated to decreased CSI. 

In addition, enforcement projects throughout 2024 – a number of them concentrated in the downtown core – targeted open drug use, criminal behaviour, social disorder and property crime. 

Thousands of doses of drugs were seized and hundreds of arrests were made, warrants were executed and criminal charges laid. 

Police also believe that preventative measures by citizens are playing a role in crime reduction and commend the community for their ongoing efforts. 

“Opportunistic property crimes including break-ins, thefts from vehicle and vehicle thefts, have decreased significantly, and I believe the steps people are taking to lock their doors, remove valuables from vehicles and decrease the opportunities for criminals is having a great impact,” said Mehdizadeh. 

• Break and enters decreased 35 per cent in 2024 – a reduction from 1,049 incidents in 2023 to 679 in in 2024
• Mischief dropped 24% from 1,612 incidents to 1,231
• Theft from motor vehicles decreased 35 per cent, from 1,283 incidents to 835
• Theft of motor vehicles decreased 25 per cent from 376 incidents to 282

Significant reductions were also recorded in person crimes in 2024.

• Assault decreased 12 per cent – a reduction from 1,625 incidents in 2023 to 1,434 in 2024
• Sexual assault dropped 38 per cent from 170 incidents to 106
• Robbery decreased 15 per cent from 72 incidents to 61 incidents