It is one of the most frustrating and irksome crimes in the book, but in Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of break-and-enters has dropped considerably over the past 30 years.

Statistics Canada says the number of such incidents in the province hit almost 4,500 in 1999, however, in 2025 the number totaled fewer than 1,800. Nearly 250 of those were considered to be unfounded.

Moreover, that 4,500 in 1999 was the peak. The incidence began dropping in subsequent years and continues to go down. The last time the number even hit 2,000 was in 2019.

The number of people charged with the crime is just under 300 province-wide.