Cape Breton

Crime data for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Cape Breton Safety Score

Below Average

Police Reported Crime Data

Total Crimes (2024)

4,230

↓ 6.7%

Historical Trend (2010 - 2024)

Clearance Rate

42.6%

Cases solved by police

1,804 Solved2,426 Unsolved

Most Common

Property Crime

60%

Property

Violent

Other

Top 5 Reported Violations

Most frequent specific criminal code violations in 2024.

Historical Trend by Violation

No trend data available.

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Data: 2024

Safety Score and CSI data are not available for this police service jurisdiction. Please refer to the crime breakdown below.

Crime Breakdown

2024

Property Crime

60.1%4,832

Violent Crime

21.4%1,718

Other Offences

18.6%1,496

Homicide data shown for Canada (national level)

Homicides

2024

788↓1.0%vs 2023

Homicide victims in Canada

(1.91 per 100k)

Homicide Trend (1961–2024)

Click on chart to view methods breakdown for that year

By Method

788 victims(-1.0%)

🔫Shooting

28636.3%

🔪Stabbing

25031.7%

👊Beating

13116.6%

📋Other methods used

445.6%

⛓️Strangulation

313.9%

❓Methods used unknown

293.7%

🔥Fire (burns or suffocation)

172.2%

Homicide rate:1.91 per 100,000

In 2024, Canada recorded 788 homicide victims, a decrease of 1.0% from 2023. The most common method was Shooting (286 victims, 36.3% of total), followed by Stabbing (250 victims, 31.7%). The homicide rate was 1.91 per 100,000 population.

Source: Statistics Canada, Homicide Survey — Tables 35-10-0068-01, 35-10-0069-01, 35-10-0071-01

Impaired Driving

2024

194↓11.0%vs 2023

Impaired driving incidents in Cape Breton

(89.2 per 100k)

Impaired Driving Trend (1998–2024)

Click on chart to view breakdown for that year

By Type

194 incidents(-11.0%)

🍺Impaired by alcohol

15897.5%

🏥Causing bodily harm

42.5%

🩸Failure to provide blood sample

00%

💨Failure to provide breath sample

00%

💀Causing death

00%

190

Total Charged

190

Adults Charged

Youth Charged

Impaired driving rate:89.2 per 100,000

In 2024, Cape Breton recorded 194 impaired driving incidents, a decrease of 11.0% from 2023. The most common offence type was Impaired by alcohol (158 incidents, 97.5% of sub-types), followed by Causing bodily harm (4 incidents, 2.5%). The impaired driving rate was 89.2 per 100,000 population. A total of 190 persons were charged, including 190 adults and 0 youth.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 — Incident-based crime statistics

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

98,318

Population

$55,600

Median Income

19.7%

Unemployment

71.0%

Homeownership

👥 Population

49.2

Median Age

-0.4%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$62,000

Median Household Income

$76,800

Average Household Income

18.3%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

51.6%

Participation Rate

41.4%

Employment Rate

19.7%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

16,315

High School

23,870

Postsecondary

43,330

Bachelor's+

14,310

🏠 Housing

$183,600

Avg. Dwelling Value

$827

Avg. Monthly Rent

$891

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

4,945

Visible Minorities

2,185

Immigrants

7,385

Indigenous Identity

According to the 2021 Census, Cape Breton had a population of 98,318 (-0.4% change from 2016) with a median age of 49.2. The median after-tax household income was $55,600, and the unemployment rate was 19.7%. Homeownership rate was 71.0% with an average dwelling value of $183,600.

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

⚖️

Adult vs Youth Charged

2024

2,856

Adults Charged

-3.2% YoY

244

Youth Charged

+9.9% YoY

7.9%

Youth Share

3,100

Total Charged

Adult rate: 1550.0 per 100,000

Youth rate: 2031.6 per 100,000

2024

Adults: 2,856

Youth: 244

Adults (left axis) Youth (right axis)

Dual-axis: each line has its own scale · Click to view year details

Adult Δ (1998–2024)

+567.3%

Youth Δ (1998–2024)

+53.5%

In 2024, Cape Breton recorded 2,856 adults charged and 244 youth charged across all Criminal Code violations. Youth accounted for 7.9% of all persons charged. Since 1998, youth charges have changed by +53.5%, while adult charges changed by +567.3%.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 — Incident-based crime statistics

🚗Motor Vehicle Theft🔵 VERY LOW

2024

180incidents

82.8 per 100,000 population

Since 1998

6.7%

Solved Rate

2006

Peak Year

—

CSI Impact

Persons Charged12

👤 Adults: 6 (50%)🧑 Youth: 6 (50%)

Very low — most thefts go unsolved

How Cases Are Cleared

Cleared by Charge12 (100%)

Cleared Otherwise0 (0%)

"Cleared otherwise" includes cases where charges cannot be laid (e.g., suspect deceased, diplomatic immunity, victim declines).

Unfounded Reports

4.3%

of all reported MVT

vs National Average▼ 64% below

This Location82.8

National Avg232.5

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year (2006)

Cape Breton recorded 180 motor vehicle thefts in 2024 (82.8 per 100K), down from a peak rate of 326.3 in 2006. Only 6.7% of cases are solved, making it one of the hardest crimes for police to clear.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177. Click chart to select year.

🔫

Firearms & Weapons

2024

Incidents

102

▲ 64.5% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

46.9

Breakdown

Possession of weapons

8489.4%

Pointing a firearm

44.3%

Unsafe storage

22.1%

Firearms Act

22.1%

Discharge firearm

22.1%

Weapons trafficking

00%

🏠

Property Crime

2024

Incidents

4,832

▼ 3.7% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

2222.7

Breakdown

Theft under $5K

2,49659%

Mischief

1,30030.7%

Break & Enter

1864.4%

Motor vehicle theft

1804.3%

Arson

360.9%

Theft over $5K

340.8%

Shoplifting $5K+

00%

🔪

Violent Crime

2024

Incidents

1,718

▼ 10.8% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

790.3

Breakdown

Assault Level 1

64657.2%

Assault Level 2

23220.5%

Sexual Assault L1

13612%

Robbery

544.8%

Criminal Harassment

302.7%

Assault Level 3

201.8%

Uttering Threats

121.1%

💰

Fraud & Identity Crime

2024

Incidents

518

▼ 26.6% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

238.3

Breakdown

Identity Fraud

3672%

Identity Theft

1428%

🔞

Sexual Violence

2024

Content warning: This section contains data about sexual offences

Total Incidents

176

▼ 18.5% vs 2023

SA L1 Rate / 100K

62.6

Breakdown

Sexual Assault L1

13677.3%

Violations Against Children

3218.2%

Voyeurism

42.3%

Sexual Assault L2

21.1%

Non-consensual Images

21.1%

Sexual Assault L3

00%

🏚️

Breaking & Entering

2024

Incidents

186

▼ 22.5% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

85.6

Breakdown

Standard B&E

186100%

B&E to Steal Firearm

00%

🍺

Substance-Related Crime

2024

Total Incidents

194

▼ 11.0% vs 2023

Drug Rate / 100K

—

Breakdown

Impaired Driving

194100%

Cannabis Possession

00%

Cannabis Trafficking

00%

Cape Breton

Nova Scotia, Canada

Population

132,010

Wikipedia

About Cape Breton

Cape Breton Island is a rugged and irregularly shaped island on the Atlantic coast of North America and part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Livability Score

A+

100/100 Score

Cost of Living Index

95Average

National Baseline = 100

Climate & Weather

Annual historical averages

July High

24.3°C

Jan Low

-3°C

Annual Rain

1249 mm

Annual Snow

230 cm

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📰 Latest Crime News

LIVE

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March 24, 2026

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March 24, 2026

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March 23, 2026

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Nearby Areas

15 locations

References & Sources

Wikipedia

General information about Cape Breton

View source

Statistics Canada

Crime statistics, population & census data

View source

Crime data sourced from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey via Statistics Canada. Last updated for the most recent available reference year.

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

98,318

Population

$55,600

Median Income

19.7%

Unemployment

71.0%

Homeownership

👥 Population

49.2

Median Age

-0.4%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$62,000

Median Household Income

$76,800

Average Household Income

18.3%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

51.6%

Participation Rate

41.4%

Employment Rate

19.7%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

16,315

High School

23,870

Postsecondary

43,330

Bachelor's+

14,310

🏠 Housing

$183,600

Avg. Dwelling Value

$827

Avg. Monthly Rent

$891

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

4,945

Visible Minorities

2,185

Immigrants

7,385

Indigenous Identity

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

Cape Breton Safety Score

Police Reported Crime Data

4,230

42.6%

Property Crime

Top 5 Reported Violations

Historical Trend by Violation

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Crime Breakdown

Homicides

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour

🎓 Education (25–64)

🏠 Housing

🌍 Diversity

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime

Cape Breton

About Cape Breton

Climate & Weather

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Safety Alert: Man Charged After Assault and Standoff Near Brecken Ridge Lane in Halifax Region

Community Safety Alert: Multiple Impaired Drivers Stopped Around Halifax During National Prevention Week

Dartmouth Walmart Robbery Raises Retail Safety Concerns, But No Ongoing Public Threat Identified

Community Alert: RCMP Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

Community Alert: Antigonish County RCMP Investigate Theft of Historic Church Bell on Hwy 337

Community Safety Alert: Province-Wide Warrant for Impaired Driving Suspect in Nova Scotia

Nearby Areas

Cape Breton

Membertou 28B

Eskasoni 3

Victoria, Subd. B

Richmond, Subd. B

Wagmatcook 1

Malagawatch 4

Chapel Island 5

Whycocomagh 2

References & Sources

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Safety Alert: Man Charged After Assault and Standoff Near Brecken Ridge Lane in Halifax Region

Community Safety Alert: Multiple Impaired Drivers Stopped Around Halifax During National Prevention Week

Dartmouth Walmart Robbery Raises Retail Safety Concerns, But No Ongoing Public Threat Identified

Community Alert: RCMP Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

Community Alert: Antigonish County RCMP Investigate Theft of Historic Church Bell on Hwy 337

Community Safety Alert: Province-Wide Warrant for Impaired Driving Suspect in Nova Scotia

Crime & Safety Overview

Crime Breakdown

Homicides

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour

🎓 Education (25–64)

🏠 Housing

🌍 Diversity

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime