Nanaimo Crime Rate Puts It In #12 Spot

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MacLeans Crime Study

MacLeans Magazine recently compiled crime statistics from Stats Canada and from that information determined the top 100 most dangerous cities in Canada. Victoria came in at the #2 spot while Nanaimo came in at the #12 spot.

MacLeans explains their methodology thusly:

Maclean’s obtained annual crime data from Statistics Canada for municipal police services serving the nation’s 100 largest populations, each encompassing a city or town of at least 10,000 people. Using 2009 rates per 100,000 people for six crimes—homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, vehicle theft, robbery plus breaking and entering—in each area, Maclean’s calculated the percentage difference from the national rate. The overall crime score ranking for the 100 communities was created in consultation with StatsCan, using its Crime Severity Index (CSI) score and calculating the percentage difference from the national CSI score.

As with most statistics they seldom tell a very complete story, nor do they explain the reasons which might skew the figures to give an unfair example. However, they do provide a benchmark by which to guage certain things.

Nanaimo ranked 12th overall in Canada based on percentage related to national average with a overall score of 48% over the national average, while Victoria in 2nd spot had an overall score of 80% over the national average. Does that really mean that Victoria is nearly twice as dangerous as Nanaimo?

Looking Into The Numbers By Crime Category 

Overall national homicide rate was 1.8 per 100,000 population, Nanaimo was -100% compared with national average, national sexual assault rate 62 per 100,000, Nanaimo was -5.54% compared with national average, national motor vehicle theft was 321 per 100,000, nanaimo was +39.89% compared with national average, national robbery was 96 per 100,000, nanaimo was +21.50% compared with national average, national break and enter was 610 per 100,000, Nanaimo was +35.12% above the national average.

Some conclusions you could draw from these stats relating to Nanaimo would be that you are twice as likely to be killed some place else, your chances of sexual assault are about the same as the national average, your car is 39.89% more likely to be stolen in Nanaimo, you have a 21.5% better chance of being robbed and a 35% better chance your home will be broken into.

Statistics only help to quantify things but don't really tell a complete story. For example the break and enter rate in Nanaimo might have some relationship to the general overall economic state and or the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

Speaking personally, I don't feel unsafe in Nanaimo, that said, in the past 12 years my car has been gone through at least three times while sitting in my driveway. We have never experienced a break and enter, the dog might have a lot to do with that. I do know previous owners did experience break and enter on at least one occassion.

I would personally feel less safe in Vancouver, yet according to this study they are statistically safer than we are. So, what is your opinion, do you feel unsafe in Nanaimo?