Among the provinces, British Columbia reported the highest break and enters rate per 100,000 population for each year over the last decade. The Atlantic provinces have historically reported lower break and enter rates than Central or Western Canada.

Between 1995 and 1996, P.E.I. (-1.5%) and Ontario (-3.6%) were the only provinces to show decreases. Rates remained stable in Manitoba and Alberta and increased in the remaining provinces.

Alberta's 1996 break and enter rate of 1,123 per 100,000 population was 15.1% below the national rate of 1,322 and was the lowest recorded among the western provinces. Over the 1991-96 period, Alberta's break and enter rate dropped 33%, the largest decrease among any of the provinces.