Crime increases in Toronto on weekends and holidays – researchers use modeling and visualization to find hot spots

Criminal behavior in Toronto’s crime hotspots is higher on weekends and holidays, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo, supported by the France-based International Space University.

For the first time, researchers examined how both geography and the distinction between business and non-business days affect crime hotspots in Toronto. Using modeling and visualization techniques, they found that the frequency of assaults and robberies is significantly higher on weekends and holidays in areas with high business and entertainment activity compared to weekdays. In comparison, Toronto’s northern residential areas have fewer burglaries, carjackings, and thefts over $5,000.

The researchers claim that understanding when and where crime occurs can help develop effective crime-fighting strategies. The research is published in the journal Deviant behavior.

“Modeling and visualizing crime patterns is a useful tool for professionals such as urban planners and police officers,” said Renan Cai, Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Environment. “Ultimately, the more information we have, the better decisions we can make about policing, patrolling, crime prevention and even things like neighborhood watch.”

The researchers emphasize the need for tailored crime control measures in different small areas of the city, especially on weekends and holidays. For example, in an area with increasing robbery rates and in an area with more burglary, higher patrol frequencies and more video surveillance may be required.

The researchers used Toronto Open Data and major crime data from the Toronto Police Public Safety Data Portal between 2015 and 2019. They analyzed the dates and locations of events for five major crime types (assault, robbery, auto theft, burglary, and larceny). over $5,000).

Future research could examine other crimes or look at geographic and temporal factors, such as how long weekends affect crime in the city.

“So many people live in cities these days,” said Su-Yin Tan, a professor in the Faculty of Environment at Waterloo. “Our cities are constantly changing rapidly due to gentrification, technology and immigration. So this research allows us to better understand the behavior of criminal activity in neighborhoods and plan accordingly.”