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

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:

• Theft from vehicles climbed nearly 46 per cent, rising from about 1,720 incidents in 2024 to more than 2,500 in 2025.
• Identity fraud increased about 45 per cent, from roughly 350 incidents to more than 500.
• Possession or accessing child sexual abuse material rose sharply, from 39 incidents to 195.
• Sexual offences involving children increased by nearly 28 per cent.
• Making or distributing child sexual abuse material also increased, rising from 22 to 36 incidents.
• The data also show a substantial increase in reported drug offences, from roughly 450 incidents in 2024 to more than 2,200 in 2025. It’s unclear if this is due to Project Pathways, the open-air drug use strategy London police launched last year.

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.

Not every category increased

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.