Theft is one of the most commonly charged offences prosecuted in Alberta. According to Statistics Canada, there were 3,526 charges for theft over $5,000 laid in Alberta in 2022, along with 83,324 charges for theft under $5,000 in that same period.
Fraud is one of the most common charges laid by police, especially in Alberta. According to Statistics Canada, it has seen the greatest increase nationwide since 2011, rising from 87,174 offences in 2011 to 168,483 in 2021.
When people consider theft from businesses they may only think about shoplifters. However, employee theft may be more common, although it is much harder to detect and put a value on.
A criminal breach of trust occurs when someone abuses a position of authority for self-benefit and against the interests of the person to whom they owe the duty of trust. This charge is most commonly laid where an employee steals from their employer.
The theft of catalytic converters is on the rise across Canada, and Alberta is no exception. In 2021, there were 4,797 reported catalytic converter thefts in Alberta with 2,647 in Edmonton.
You can be charged with fraud if police believe you committed an offence where a person or the public was defrauded of any property, money or valuable security or service.
If you steal something, such as a tool from a shed or money from a cash register, that’s theft.
Thefts and frauds are two of the most common offences in Canada. Some people might not realize that the penalties for each crime increase substantially if the amount stolen or defrauded is more than $5,000.
