LPS Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says he is proud to see crime statistics in Lethbridge falling in 2024. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Crime in Lethbridge down 16 per cent in 2024

Feb 27, 2025 | 8:52 AM

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is reporting what it says is a significant reduction in crime last year.

There were a total of 12,939 criminal violations in 2024, down 16.4 per cent compared to 2023.

Graphs shown in a presentation to the Lethbridge Police Commission on Wednesday show the volume of crime in 2024 was the lowest in at least the last seven years.

Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says it is great to see things moving in the right direction.

“I am extremely proud of the work our officers and civilians are doing every day to contribute to a safe community for all,” says Mehdizadeh. “Over the past five years crime in the city has been trending down and the significant decrease in 2024 further highlights that positive trajectory.”

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LPS recorded reductions in several categories of crime, including:

• Sexual assault: down 38%
• Break and enter: down 35%
• Theft from motor vehicles: down 35%
• Theft of motor vehicles: down 25%
• Mischief: down 24%
• Robbery: down 15%
• Assault: down 12%

Reductions in crime were also reported in all neighbourhoods in the city:

• West: down 24%
  • Most common violation: Tie between assault, mischief, and theft under $5,000 from a motor vehicle
• Downtown: down 16.5%
  • Most common violation: Shoplifting under $5,000
• South: down 15.2%
  • Most common violation: Mischief
• North: down 9.3%
  • Most common violation: Fraud

Mehdizadeh says one of the major drivers of the reductions in crime is LPS’ use of Comp Stat, a data-driven model where analytics are used to identify high-crime areas, prolific offenders, and determine the best use of police resources.

“Opportunistic property crimes including break-ins, thefts from vehicle and vehicle thefts, have decreased significantly, and I believe the steps people are taking to lock their doors, remove valuables from vehicles and decrease the opportunities for criminals is having a great impact,” says Mehdizadeh.

The lessened crime has resulted in an 18 per cent reduction in the city’s Crime Severity Index. That is a tool that Statistics Canada uses to measure changes in the level of severity of crime.

Mehdizadeh also noted an increase in the public’s perception of safety in Lethbridge, as 70 per cent of respondents to the 2024 Community Survey said they feel safe.

The full report on 2024 crime statistics in Lethbridge can be found on pages 44-67 of the Lethbridge Police Commission agenda from February 26, 2025.

READ MORE: 70% of Lethbridge residents say they feel safe