How safe is Vancouver? The Largest City in British Columbia, Canada
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by Richard Morrison
- June 30, 2022
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Vancouver is generally considered a safe city, but a few things should be considered, especially if you are a female traveler. Though crimes and scams do happen, Vancouver is not particularly dangerous, and you are unlikely to experience pickpocketing or a scam. Nonetheless, you should use common sense and be vigilant about your surroundings, especially in the Downtown Eastside.
Although there are no major crimes or incidents in Vancouver, you should still be aware of the risk of theft and date rape. Despite the low crime rate, pickpockets do happen, so you should never leave your purse or cell phone unattended. Likewise, you should never accept a drink from a stranger. It’s always better to lock your car than to leave your possessions on the street. Also, never allow anyone to take your drink.
Overall, Vancouver is very safe to live in. Let’s look in more detail below, shall we?
Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia, hosting over 2.6 million residents. A median of at least 6 million tourists visits Vancouver annually, both from the U.S. and other countries, due to its giant parks, mild temperatures which make it great for outdoor events and activities, its cultural life, shopping, and marvellous dining. With that being said, how safe is Vancouver?
Vancouver’s crime rate saw a slight increase since 2016, however, major crimes aren’t all that common. In fact, Vancouver is among the safest places in the Lower Mainland, Canada, and globally in other countries. Vancouver has incredible neighbourhoods. Minor crimes occur in less densely populated areas, but as with any big city, Vancouver has some dark side neighbourhoods that may be potentially dangerous risk to travelers. It is always best to follow some safety tips no matter where you are in the end.
Also whether you are thinking about buying or renting, this guide is worth your attention to determine just how safe is your next neighbourhood, or at least find out where not to live in.
Is Vancouver safe to visit, or live in? Let’s analyze in detail the violent crimes rate, and take into consideration property crimes, sexual offences, sexual assaults, car break-ins, and see which are the safest and most dangerous places in Vancouver overall in terms of risk.
Key Takeaway: Is Vancouver Secure?
Vancouver is consistently ranked as among the top ten most livable cities in the world by the international magazine, The Economist. The city also ranked in several other positive statistics more than once among the highest places. For instance, salaries in Vancouver tend to be one of the highest in Canada even tho mortgages are the most expensive. Like in any major city, drug addicts and homeless people are present and may be considered dangerous.
The most common crimes that occur in Vancouver are related to car break-ins, most likely due to drug addicts that are looking to make some quick money and buy drugs. When it comes to personal security, it’s clear that most people fear violent crimes, however, these are fairly rare. For example, in 2019, the violent crime rate was recorded at 8 offenses per 1,000 people.
As a tourist, Vancouver’s nightlife is also fairly safe since Vancouverites love to hang out at restaurants, and clubs, more than your average Canadian. Female solo travelers, however, should be careful since sex assaults seem to be on the rise, but overall, the sexual offenses are far lower than in most other cities.
Buying Real Estate Strategically
If you want to buy real estate that is affordable, it is also worth noting that property crime, in business-break-and-enters, and slightly in residential break-and-enters, is also been a bit on the rise since the previous year. However, it all depends on the neighborhood and types of housing you are living in, and the safety precautions you take, to either discourage or halt theft completely. Keep in mind that the safer the area the costlier it will be to buy a property in Vancouver. Its prudent to learn about the closing costs in case you decide to make a move.
Personal Safety Tips when Visiting Vancouver BC
There is always a risk no matter what city you decide to visit. Generally, populated cities such as Vancouver are extremely safe, since there are so many eyes watching, but you should definitely abide by some safety tips just to be sure, no matter where you go. You should also take into consideration travel insurance. Here are some of the best safety tips when visiting Vancouver BC:
Don’t leave valuables in your car
As mentioned earlier, drug addicts are the most likely people that will try and make some quick money off of your belongings. If you travel to Vancouver by car, it is always best to leave it in well-lit and populated streets. Also, don’t leave your valuable stuff in your car visible.
Avoid big parks at night
Crimes often occur at night when you walk in secluded areas, such as a park. Parks in Vancouver are very big compared to other cities, however, it is best to avoid walking alone in such places at night. If you do want to go through, at least take some friends with you. Stanley Park, for example, is so big that you can easily fall victim to a theft at night.
Be aware of your surroundings
In any city, including Vancouver, you can be subjected to theft. Travelers usually don’t expect to be robbed and don’t actively protect their belongings since they are usually immersed in the beauty of a new place that they are visiting, or they are tired from walking all day. Visitors should expect the unexpected especially in safe cities such as Vancouver, just because petty criminals might take advantage of the city’s good safety status.
Don’t sample drinks
Date rape drugs are infamous throughout the world, and it happens throughout the world. It can happen at a club, party, even when you are with friends. Never let your drink out of sight and don’t accept drinks from anyone for your personal safety.
Know the bad areas of a city and avoid them
Any city has its bad neighborhoods. For the most part, in Vancouver, the only thing that you can experience in such places is the shock of seeing drug addicts, or homeless people, which are generally minding their own business. However, visitors might get scared of seeing open acts of drug usage, or other things, in places such as East Hastings. It is always best to inform yourself about what places to avoid in a city, just as a safety measure.
How Dangerous is Vancouver BC?
What is the worst thing that can happen to you in Vancouver? Well, tourists and even citizens are less likely to experience a serious crime in Vancouver. Let’s take a look at Vancouver’s homicide rates for example. There are fewer homicide crimes taking place in Vancouver than in the past five years. Only 10 such cases occurred in 2019, so the chances are astronomically low. You have a higher chance of winning the lottery a couple of times over than getting shot in Vancouver. With that being said, let’s take a look at the so-called bad neighborhoods of Vancouver.
Top 4 Violent Crime Rate Areas in Vancouver
What Are the Bad Areas of Vancouver?
Some of the bad neighborhoods marked in Greater Vancouver, Canada, are Historic Japantown, Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, Mole Hill, Westbrook Village, Davie Village, Hogans Alley, Lower Hudson, and Gastown. These areas have a higher crime rate than other places in Vancouver. Though the crime rate is higher, it is usually petty crimes that occur, and tourists shouldn’t avoid these regions because of this, but they will have to be more careful, and avoid traveling alone at night in these areas.
Historic Japantown
Vancouver’s Historic Japantown area has a population of about 6,000 citizens. This area is 59% above the average Vancouver crime rate. Some of the reasons for why the crime rate is higher in this and other Asian neighborhoods, is related to the Covid 19 pandemic, as Asians were seen somehow related to the global crisis.
Violent crime: 1,847 estimated total incidents
Property crime:8,110 estimated total incidents
Downtown Eastside
The Downtown Eastside area had a pretty bad vibe for some time. With a population of around 20,771, it has a 49% higher crime rate than the Vancouver median rate. It is a safe place during the day, but it would be best not to travel here at night. There are a couple of drug addicts and homeless people in this area that are unpredictable.
Violent crime: 1,735 estimated total incidents
Property crime: 7,618 estimated total incidents
Chinatown
Chinatown is also one of Vancouver’s highest crime rate neighborhoods, with a 58% crime rate above the average in Vancouver as a whole. It has a population of 3,340 residents, and it is one of the smaller areas of the city.
Violent crime: 1,836 estimated total incidents
Property crime: 8,062 estimated total incidents
Mole Hill
Another small community is the Mole Hill area, with a population of only 445. The crime rate in this region is 49% higher than the Vancouver median. The risk of traveling to this community is still relatively low, especially for tourists, but always keep in mind the general safety tips.
Violent crime: 1,733 estimated total incidents
Property crime: 7,610 estimated total incidents
Is Vancouver Safer than Toronto?
As a tourist or if you are buying a new home, or someone looking to buy real estate in British Columbia with a real estate agent and gain access, another great way to present a city’s safety, is possible by comparing Vancouver to any other city of similar grandeur. Is Vancouver safer than Toronto, for example? Toronto has 2.4 times more citizens than Vancouver, and the crime rates are much higher.
For example, in 2018, Toronto had the highest homicide rate among major Canadian cities, at 3.5 per 100,000 people. In all aspects, Toronto has a higher crime rate per capita than Vancouver, and a higher population. Thus, we can conclude that Vancouver as a city is much safer than Toronto in all aspects.
How Good is the Vancouver Police Department?
The Vancouver Police Department is among the best when it comes to Canadian police forces. The officers undergo hard and extensive training and they are very friendly to tourists and other travelers. If you want to visit Vancouver, know that its police forces are among the most fast-paced in Canada, aimed to protect a person’s well-being and safety. They disrupt acts of violence with ease, making Vancouver safe during day and night.
Top 5 Safest Places in Vancouver
Vancouver is among the safest places in Canada both for tourists and travelers. However, if you want to know what are the safest neighborhoods in this city then all the others, enjoy outdoor activities, go to great restaurants, and enjoy a good night walk, or invest in real estate, here is where you should go:
- Kerrisdale
- West Point Grey
- Shaughnessy
- South Cambie
- Arbutus Ridge
These are the top 5 safest Vancouver neighborhoods, not just when it comes to their lower than average crime rates, but also environmental safety such as in case of forest fires, or other natural disasters.
These areas are engulfed in greeny sceneries that will make it perfect for both the young and the elderly to settle into, establish a family, or settle down and be at peace.
Conclusion
Unlike other cities, Vancouver as a whole is very secure both in terms of very low crime rates and even environmental disasters. It is among the best cities in Canada to live in. Being a multicultural hub, people from all over the world are welcomed, and each and everyone will feel safer here than in most parts of British Columbia.
Sources:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g154943-s206/Vancouver:British-Columbia:Health.And.Safety.html
https://vpd.ca/crime-statistics/
Ready to turn your real estate dreams into reality? Contact Richard Morrison, Vancouver’s top realtor with 20+ years of experience. As a Medallion Club member and RE/MAX Hall of Fame award winning agent, he’s the expert you need on your side. Whether buying, selling, or investing, Richard’s personalized approach and deep market insights ensure a successful transaction. Reach out to Richard today at (778) 900-2235 and make your real estate journey seamless and rewarding.
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