Shoplifting continues to spike in Coquitlam; assault rate dips

While there’s been a decline in persons crimes such as assault, property crimes are up in Coquitlam – largely due to a rise in shoplifting.

Shoplifting was up 37 percent in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the three-year average.

The total of 451 incidents of shoplifting was down from 480 incidents in the first quarter of 2025.

The spike has been seen across the Lower Mainland and is: “driven by cost of living challenges,” according to a report from Coquitlam RCMP.

The rise in shoplifting was acute in Port Coquitlam, where police recorded a 50 percent increase in the second quarter of 2025.

Grocery stores, liquor stores, and stores that sell used goods, such as Value Village, are the most frequent targets, stated Coquitlam RCMP Supt. Darren Carr.

Break-and-enters also rose in the last quarter, with a total of 90 break and enters at Coquitlam businesses, up from the three-year average of 67.

There were 42 residential break and enters in Coquitlam in the second quarter of 2025, up from the three-year-average of 34.

There were 192 assaults in Coquitlam in the second quarter of 2025, down from the three-year average of 209.

Robberies rose from 10 to 14. Sex offences increased from 40 to 54.

The detachment fielded 8,091 calls for service in the second quarter. A total of 625 those calls were mental health emergencies – up from the three-year-average of 588.

Hospital wait times also ticked up by eight minutes in the second-quarter of 2025.

Officers spent an average of one-hour and 49 minutes at hospitals waiting to get a resident admitted.

The average response time for a resident calling 911 is approximately eight seconds, according to the RCMP report.

The city was recently awarded $2.1 million to help fund emergency response improvements.

The detachment was granted $2.25 million to support patrols and technology modernization.