Most common crimes in the U.S. and Canada

Millions of people call the he United States and Canada home, and a long border is shared between the two nations. There are many similarities between the U.S. and Canada, including the types of crimes that are most common each year.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation says that crimes are typically broken down into property crime or violent crime. Although violet crimes are the ones that repeatedly draw media attention, property crimes far exceed violent crimes in frequency. Here's a deep dive into the five most common crimes in both Canada and the United States.

United States

The following are the most frequently reported crimes in the U.S., based on FBI data from 2024.

1. Larceny/theft: This consistently is the most common crime in the U.S. It is defined as the taking of a person's property without the use of force, fraud or violence. Everything from shoplifting to stealing a bicycle falls under this category.

2. Motor vehicle theft: Motor vehicle theft continues to be a growing problem. The FBI Crime Data Explorer indicates that motor vehicle crime rates declined by 18.6 percent in 2024 from the previous year. However, motor vehicle theft remains a major source of property crime. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says 850,708 vehicles were reported stolen in the U.S. in 2024.

3. Aggravated assault: This is an attack on another person with the intent to cause serious bodily harm. The FBI Crime Clock says an aggravated assault occurs every 36.5 seconds in the U.S.

4. Burglary: This crime involves breaking into a home or business with the intent to commit a felony or theft.

5. Robbery: Robbery is taking anything of value from a person by force or threat of force. Robbery rates declined by close to 9 percent in 2024, according to the FBI.

Canada

Statistics Canada is the main source of information about crime in Canada. Here's a look at crime trends throughout Canada.

1. Theft (Under $5,000): This crime is the most common reported crime in Canada by a large margin. This category includes petty theft and shoplifting.

2. Mischief: Defined as acts of vandalism and property damage, mischief is Canada's second most common crime.

3. Assault: Assault is the most common violent crime in Canada. Statistics Canada data from 2022, the most recent year for information, revealed an assault rate of 503 per 100,000 people.

4. Breaking and entering: Similar to burglary in the U.S., breaking and entering involves the unlawful entry to a building. This crime has declined slowly since the 1990s.

5. Motor vehicle theft: Although the rate of motor vehicle theft is lower in Canada than in the U.S., it has seen a recent increase. However, it is still lower at 271 vehicles per 100,000 than its peak 25 years ago.

The overall police-reported crimes in both the United States and Canada are quite similar, with property crimes exceeding violent crimes as the most prominent.