Rising construction site thefts accompany Calgary housing boom

Calgary’s building boom has set a new benchmark and brought an unwelcome trend along with it.

The city saw roughly 28,000 new housing developments in 2025, more than double Calgary’s 10‑year annual average.

But as construction ramps up across expanding neighbourhoods, so too have reports of theft from job sites.

According to the Calgary Police Service (CPS), 371 construction site thefts were reported last year, more than 50 additional cases compared to the year before. Officers say the surge is closely tied to the rapid pace of development, particularly in areas where new communities are still isolated and sparsely populated.

CPS Cst. Miguel Lay says the location of these projects makes them especially vulnerable.

Many large developments, he explained, sit far from established neighbourhoods, meaning fewer witnesses and fewer routine patrols. That’s why reporting every incident matters.

“If there’s no stars to kind of show those activities are happening, our officers are pretty busy attending calls regularly anyhow, so it’s kinda hard to justify taking time away from regular calls to do a proactive patrol around the area,” Lay said.

He noted that in dense construction zones — such as the University District, where multiple developers operate side by side — collaboration is key. Builders should coordinate with one another and with police to create a unified deterrent.

“I don’t think the thieves care if they’re ripping off Trico or Shane Homes or anyone else. Theft is theft for them,” Lay said.