Vehicle thefts, identity fraud among biggest jumps in London's latest crime data

Vehicle thefts, identity fraud among biggest jumps in London's latest crime data

CBC News analysis of Statistics Canada data highlights the crime that rose in 2025

Thefts from vehicles, identity fraud and child exploitation offences were among the crime categories that saw the largest increases in London, Ont., last year, according to a CBC News analysis of newly released Statistics Canada data.

The figures, released this week as part of Statistics Canada's annual police crime database, provide a snapshot of offences reported to police in 2025 and how they compare with the previous year. They are based on incidents known to police and can be influenced by changes in reporting, investigative practices and enforcement, as well as changes in crime itself.

Among the most notable increases:

Statistics Canada cautions that police-reported crime statistics reflect incidents known to police and can be affected by changes in policing priorities, reporting practices and investigative activity. That means year-over-year increases do not necessarily mean that more crimes are occurring.

Some offences remained relatively stable or declined.

Nationally, Statistics Canada reported that the Crime Severity Index, a measure that accounts for both the volume and seriousness of crime, fell for a second consecutive year in 2025. Breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft and overall fraud all declined across Canada, even as offences such as shoplifting continued to rise.

Several of London's largest increases also involved relatively small numbers of incidents, meaning a handful of additional cases can result in large percentage changes.

Still, the data point to several emerging areas that could warrant closer attention, particularly vehicle-related thefts, online financial crime and offences involving the online sexual exploitation of children.

CBC News has requested comment from the London Police Service on the trends highlighted in the data.