iN NUMBERS: How safe British Columbians are (or aren’t) feeling

Crime and reaction to crime has always owned the headlines.

Is there more? Less? That’s important to know and we’ll bring you some updated information on that soon.

But how we feel about crime and safety, regardless of the facts, is just as important.

The pollsters at Angus Reid checked in with a broad sample of British Columbians to ask them just how they feel about safety.

Here are the numbers:

• 66: Per cent of British Columbians feel like there has been an increase in crime in their community in the last five years.
• 81: Per cent of Conservative Party of Canada voters said crime has increased over the last five years.
• 51: Per cent of Liberal Party of Canada voters said crime has increased over the last five years.
• 16: Per cent of British Columbians said they have been a victim of a crime where the police got involved in the past two years.
• 62: Per cent of British Columbians feel that their neighbourhood is a safe place to walk around alone after dark.
• 10: Per cent more men than women feel safe walking around their neighbourhood after dark.
• 44: Per cent of BC retail workers have seen or dealt with a customer getting physically threatening at their current job.
• 62: Per cent of British Columbians said there has been an increase in shoplifting in their community.
• 69: Per cent of BC retail workers said there has been an increase in verbally abusive customers in the past year or two.