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Property Crimes

Would You want your property, money or identity stolen?

In Alberta, property theft is real. This area of crime can involve theft, vehicle theft, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of stolen credit card and identity documents, break and enter, and robbery. Ultimately, property crime is to obtain money, property or any other material benefit.

Regardless of how property crime is carried out, it is often tied to organized crime and drugs. The property crime unit is an integrated team between the Medicine Hat Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police operating under the umbrella of ALERT.

319 Investigations

319 Investigations and assists in property crimes by ALERT during the 2021-22 year.

13 Arrests

In relation to property crimes, often perpetrated by individuals linked to organized crime (2021-24 period).

58 Charges

Laid against offenders arrested by ALERT in relation to property crimes over the 2021-24 period.

Over $15 Million

In stolen assets recovered by ALERT during property crimes investigations, in addition to 408 vehicles (2021-24 period).

In August of 2021, ALERT recovered nearly one million dollars worth of stolen property following an extensive investigation into stolen holiday trailers and campers. This was an organized property crime network involving VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) modification.

ONE MILLION

Areas of Property That are

Stolen

Vehicle Theft

Vehicle theft involves both the theft of vehicles themselves as well as theft of property from the inside of vehicles. This is the most frequent police call for service in relation to property crimes. Luckily, there are many easy ways to protect yourself.

Metal Theft

Metal theft commonly involves copper wire theft and catalytic converter theft. Both are becoming more prevalent due to the increasing price of these metals.

Areas of property that are

Stolen

Break & Enter

Break and enter to commit theft commonly occurs and any number of items can be stolen from a home such as tools, jewelry and firearms. Break and enter to commit theft is one of the most common ways that firearms land in criminal hands in Alberta.

ORGANIZED CRIME

Property crime relates to organized crime due to the fact that most property crimes are committed to finance offender drug use. The increasing substance addiction issue is fuelling a rise in property-related crimes, especially in relation to copper wire and catalytic converter theft. However, the money received from stolen copper wire or scrap metal is minimal compared to the damages, costs and hazards inflected to the oilfield sites (where this typically occurs).

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The majority of thefts from vehicles happen because the owner has left their vehicle unlocked. Lock your vehicle to keep both the vehicle and the items inside secure. Furthermore, keep your garage door opener locked will prevent criminals from accessing the inside of your garage (and consequently, the items inside).

Learn more about Auto Crimes

Keep rural property and storage lots secure: place locks on your trailer hitches, boats and storage containers that contain valuables. While it might be one more step for you, it’s a significant deterrent to criminals.

Keeping your firearms properly locked and secured is the best and easiest way to help prevent firearm theft and subsequently firearm trafficking in Alberta.

Learn more about Firearm Trafficking

Keep records of serial numbers and purchase receipts for all valuable items such as bikes, tools, firearms, jewelry, etc. This will help investigators trace and recover stolen property.

Be aware of your own social media presence, and what you publish online. Try not to advertise your departure for holidays, or indications that you’re away from home as this information may become available to criminals, who might then use it to target your home or property.

Keep your valuables locked away and out of view from guests. Many Break and Enters are committed by individuals known to the victims. Furthermore, install surveillance cameras or doorbell cameras, as this footage will assist investigators in the event a crime is committed.

When selling used belongings, meet at a public space rather than at your home.

Performance Measures

ALERT 2024-25 | QUARTERLY REPORT

Protecting Kids Online | Internet Child Exploitation

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

FILE INTAKES

1,327

1,863

1,392

1,289

5,871

3,815

2,994

SUSPECTS CHARGED

33

41

30

31

135

109

81

CHARGES LAID

164

185

112

116

577

415

351

CHILDREN RESCUED

50

39

48

41

178

203

46

EXHIBITS SEIZED

468

535

427

401

1,831

1,724

1,243

TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS

275,144

725,022

421,057

232,802

1,654,025

2,754,097

2,551,921

Stopping Human Trafficking | HUMAN TRAFFICKING & COUNTER EXPLOITATION

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

SUSPECTS CHARGED

19

3

22

11

55

34

30

CHARGES LAID

31

17

38

31

117

231

96

VICTIM INTERVENTIONS

55

46

110

57

268

113

28

VICTIM SUPPORTS

43

59

116

67

285

Intelligence & Expertise | CISA / Training

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

INTELLIGENCE REPORTS

303

268

339

343

1,253

1,474

1,560

TRAINING COURSES

12

4

7

7

30

27

36

CANDIDATES TRAINED

215

140

233

364

952

862

933

Disrupt & Dismantle Organized Crime | Combined Special Forces Enforcement

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

SUSPECTS CHARGED

24

31

36

32

123

141

197

CHARGES LAID

129

189

143

160

621

800

1,088

FIREARMS SEIZED

48

41

16

20

125

232

102

EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED

$3,335,838

$1,021,540

$4,476,809

$1,147,381

$9,981,568

$5,334,163

$10,898,296

PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED

$275,466

$283,758

$1,214,496

$121,518

$1,895,238

$632,294

$1,432,847

Q4 Regional ResultS

ARRESTS

CHARGES

FIREARMS

DRUGS

PROCEEDS

CALGARY

4

14

$379,185

$28,455

EDMONTON

3

25

2

$53,235

$15,285

FORT MCMURRAY

2

7

9

$396,730

GRANDE PRAIRIE

6

22

$7,596

LETHBRIDGE

1

8

1

$31,460

$8,670

LLOYDMINSTER

6

29

3

$12,060

$4,978

MEDICINE HAT

7

40

5

$264,805

$35,040

RED DEER

3

15

$2,310

TOTALS

32

160

20

$1,147,381

$121,518

Organized Property Crimes | Auto Crimes

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

SUSPECTS CHARGED

11

3

1

15

2

1

CHARGES LAID

78

12

2

92

11

STOLEN VEHICLES

14

7

3

24

45

245

RECOVERED ASSETS

$825,000

$535,000

$250,000

$1,674,250

$3,284,250

$2,741,025

$8,420,500

Firearms investigations | Firearms lab & Gang suPpression teams

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS

276

250

286

236

1,048

1,178

EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS

1,282

1,099

1,383

1,245

5,009

4,715

SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS

18

19

12

18

67

108

IBIS SUBMISSIONS

345

355

405

384

1,489

2,402

GUN SEIZURES

9

11

6

19

45

15

SUSPECTS CHARGED

23

53

43

28

147

26

CHARGES LAID

120

128

112

110

505

185

Since 2022, CISA has been guided by four pillars that focus the effort to promote an integrated, intelligence-led approach to combating organized crime; these are:

  • Building Relationships with Stakeholders;
  • Promote Intel Sharing Across the Province;
  • Being Proactive and Identify Emerging Trends; and
  • Investing in Our People Through Training and Development

 

Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) has recently developed an Alberta Firearms Intelligence Centre (AFIC) to equitably expand access to firearms intelligence for all law enforcement agencies within Alberta. AFIC will provide timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to law enforcement agencies and policy-makers to achieve the shared and collaborative goals of increasing public safety concerning firearm-related crimes.

Protecting Kids Online | Internet Child Exploitation

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

FILE INTAKES

680

872

1,149

1,114

3,815

2,994

2,764

SUSPECTS CHARGED

22

16

34

37

109

81

125

CHARGES LAID

87

45

123

160

415

351

413

CHILDREN RESCUED

26

78

56

43

203

46

100

EXHIBITS SEIZED

335

368

545

476

1,724

1,243

1,845

TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS

262,400

511,133

1,374,310

606,254

2,754,097

2,551,921

13,260,819

Stopping Human Trafficking | HUMAN TRAFFICKING & COUNTER EXPLOITATION

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

13

10

7

4

34

30

76

CHARGES LAID

79

46

87

19

231

96

157

VICTIM INTERVENTIONS

30

29

17

37

113

28

22

Intelligence & Expertise | CISA / Training

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

INTELLIGENCE REPORTS

409

296

327

442

1,474

1,560

1,318

TRAINING COURSES

5

3

8

11

27

36

25

CANDIDATES TRAINED

321

56

135

350

862

933

638

Disrupt & Dismantle Organized Crime | Combined Special Forces Enforcement

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

40

27

42

32

141

197

168

CHARGES LAID

176

156

237

231

800

1,088

820

FIREARMS SEIZED

105

53

26

48

232

102

126

EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED

$906,814

$553,851

$2,725,161

$1,148,337

$5,334,163

$10,898,269

$334,093,020

PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED

$218,133

$52,970

$130,996

$230,195

$632,294

$1,432,847

$21,740,617

ANNUAL Regional ResultS

ARRESTS

CHARGES

FIREARMS

DRUGS

PROCEEDS

CALGARY

24

110

14

$937,422

$65,881

EDMONTON

17

131

45

$592,839

$272,446

FORT MCMURRAY

8

78

4

$352,942

$144,301

GRANDE PRAIRIE

7

17

13

$192,145

$31,855

LETHBRIDGE

7

29

44

$349,773

$51,245

LLOYDMINSTER

24

93

41

$164,134

$12,504

MEDICINE HAT

37

179

13

$293,108

$7,861

RED DEER

17

163

58

$2,451,800

$46,201

TOTALS

141

800

232

$5,334,163

$632,294

Organized Property Crimes | Auto Crimes

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

1

1

2

1

10

CHARGES LAID

11

47

STOLEN VEHICLES

23

15

1

6

45

245

118

RECOVERED ASSETS

$1,432,000

$941,025

$108,000

$260,000

$2,741025

$8,420,500

$3,919,500

Firearms investigations | Firearms lab & Gang suPpression teams

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS

349

351

243

235

1,178

EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS

1,316

1,409

891

1,099

4,715

SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS

31

34

19

24

108

IBIS SUBMISSIONS

343

421

1,334

304

2,402

GUN SEIZURES

1

14

15

SUSPECTS CHARGED

4

22

26

CHARGES LAID

41

144

185

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involves images and/or videos that depict the sexual abuse of minors – the majority of which involve prepubescent children. Often, CSAM involves explicit and/or extreme sexual assaults against the child victim (Cybertip.ca).

Learn more about Internet Child Exploitation and ALERT’s integrated teams combatting this issue.

Ghost Guns are illegal, privately manufactured firearms or lower receivers. These weapons are often made with 3D-printers, and undermine public safety due to their lack of licensing requirements, serialization and safety controls.

Learn more about Ghost Guns on ALERT’s dedicated Privately Manufactured Firearms info page