Which Australian suburbs have the highest crime rates?

Living in a high-crime suburb can make your home insurance more expensive. Crime rates, along with the number of claims in your area and your exposure to natural events like fires and floods, can influence the likelihood of you making a claim. This may affect your premiums. If you do live in a high-crime suburb you may be able to reduce your premiums by installing security alarms or additional locks. This depends on who your provider is.

Canstar has analysed burglary statistics to find the top hotspots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We’ve also analysed each of the state’s hotspots outside of these major cities. Depending on the available data, we’ve looked at crime statistics by suburb, postcode, local government area (LGA) or police division. We’ve also weighed this against the population of each area.

While crime rates can be useful, take these figures with a grain of salt. Crime rates can fluctuate, particularly for areas with smaller populations.

Note for readers: Northern Territory, Tasmanian, and the Australian Capital Territory home burglary statistics are not covered in this article as comparable data was not available. Read more about crime statistics in the NT, Tasmania and the ACT.

New South Wales crime statistics by LGA

Using data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Canstar identified the following local government areas (LGAs) as having the top burglary rates in both Greater Sydney and the rest of NSW for the year ending December 2023. Suburb and LGA mapping information is available from the NSW Government.

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Greater Sydney

For Greater Sydney, in the year to December 2023, Penrtih had the highest burglary rate. Bear in mind that the inner city areas are densely populated. Here are the top 10 burglary hotspots in Greater Sydney:

1. Penrith: 3.1 burglaries
2. Parramatta: 2.7 burglaries
3. Cumberland: 2.6 burglaries
4. Sydney: 2.5 burglaries
5. Strathfield: 2.5 burglaries
6. Blacktown: 2.3 burglaries
7. Liverpool: 2.3 burglaries
8. Randwick: 2.0 burglaries
9. Lane Cover: 1.9 burglaries
10. Central Coast: 1.9 burglaries

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Rest of NSW

For the rest of NSW, Canstar found that there were 10,686 reported break and enters in the period of 12 months to December 2023.

1. Moree Plains: 23.9 burglaries
2. Coonamble: 15.9 burglaries
3. Kempsey: 11.5 burglaries
4. Armidale Regionals: 11.3 burglaries
5. Lachlan: 10.1 burglaries
6. Walgett: 9.6 burglaries
7. Narrabri: 9.6 burglaries
8. Cowra: 9.4 burglaries
9. Dubbo Regional: 9.0 burglaries
10. Gunnedah: 8.9 burglaries

Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 3/04/2024. Based on rates per 100,000 population recorded by Local Government Area for break and enter (dwelling) from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. LGAs are categorised into Greater Capital City Statistical Areas per ABS Mappings.

Victoria crime statistics by suburb

Based on offence data from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, Canstar found that the following postcodes had the highest burglary rates in Greater Melbourne and the rest of Victoria for the year ending December 2023.

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Greater Melbourne

Canstar’s analysis found that Collingwood had the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people in Greater Melbourne. This was followed by South Melbourne and then Fitzroy. Here are the top 10 burglary hotspots in Greater Melbourne, with postcodes shown in brackets:

1. Collingwood (3066): 12.0 burglary rate
2. South Melbourne (3205): 10.5 burglary rate
3. Fitzroy (3065): 10.0 burglary rate
4. Prahran, Windsor (3181): 10.0 burglary rate
5. Bonnie Brook, Grangefields, Plumpton, Rockbank, Thornhill Park (3335): 9.4 burglary rate
6. East Melbourne (3002): 9.2 burglary rate
7. Carlton (3053): 9.0 burglary rate
8. Flinders (3929): 8.8 burglary rate
9. West Melbourne (3003): 8.7 burglary rate
10. Mount Dandenong (3767): 8.7 burglary rate

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Rest of Vic

For the rest of Victoria, the 10 postcodes with the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people were:

1. Corio, Norlane, North Shore (3214): 11.3 burglary rate
2. Beeac, Eurack, Weering (3251): 9.5 burglary rate
3. Caramut (3274): 7.8 burglary rates
4. Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, Drumcondra, Hamlyn Heights, North Geelong, Rippleside (3215): 5.3 burglary rates
5. Darlington (3271): 5.3 burglary rates
6. Nelson (3292): 5.2 burglary rates
7. Breakwater, East Geelong, Newcomb, St Albans Park, Thomson, Whittington (3219): 5.0 burglary rates
8. Geelong, Newtown, South Geelong
9. Mortlake (3271): 4.9 burglary rates
10. Armstrong Creek, Charlemont, Freshwater Creek, Mount Duneed (3217): 4.2 burglary rates

Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 3/04/2024. Based on number of offences per 1,000 population recorded by postcode for aggravated and non-aggravated burglary/break and enter (dwelling) from the VIC Crime Statistics Agency.Postcodes are categorised into Greater Capital City Statistical Areas per ABS Mappings.

Queensland crime statistics by division

Canstar used data from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to show the highest burglary rates in Greater Brisbane and the rest of Queensland for the year up to February 2024.

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Greater Brisbane

In Greater Brisbane, there were 7,953 reported unlawful entry with intent break ins in the year period up to February 2024.Dutton Park had the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people. This was followed by Logan Central and Russell Island police. Here are the top 10 burglary hotspots in Greater Brisbane:

1. Dutton Park: 3.8 burglary rate
2. Logan Central: 3.3  burglary rate
3. Russell Island: 3.0 burglary rate
4. Ipswich: 2.7 burglary rate
5. Fortitude Valley: 2.5 burglary rate
6. Annerley: 2.3 burglary rate
7. Beenleigh:2.1 burglary rate
8. Brisbane City: 2.0 burglary rate
9. Redcliffe: 1.9 burglary rate
10. West End: 1.9 burglary rate

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Rest of QLD

For the rest of Queensland, the 10 police divisions with the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people were:

1. Mornington Island: 10.3 burglary rate
2. Cherbourg: 8.1 burglary rate
3. Palm Island: 6.7 burglary rate
4. Doomadgee: 5.8 burglary rate
5. Normanton: 6.7 burglary rate
6. Horn Island: 5.5 burglary rate
7. Cunnamulla: 5.0 burglary rate
8. Aurukun: 5.0 burglary rate
9. Kowanyama: 5.0 burglary rate
10. Rockhampton: 4.8 burglary rate

Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 4/04/2024. Based on rates per 1,000 population by state suburb of stealing from dwellings from Queensland Government Open Data. SSCs are categorised into Greater Capital City Statistical Areas perm ABS Mappings

Western Australia crime statistics by suburb

Using data from the Western Australian Police Force, Canstar has identified the following suburbs as having the highest burglary rates in Greater Perth and the rest of Western Australia for the year up to December 2023.

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Greater Perth

Perth had the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people in Greater Perth. Freemantle was second. Here are the top 10 burglary hotspots in Greater Perth:

1. Perth: 13.0 burglary rate
2. Freemantle: 8.5 burglary rate
3. Murray: 7.9 burglary rate
4. Belmont: 7.8 burglary rate
5. Kwinana: 7.0 burglary rate
6. Victoria Park: 6.5 burglary rate
7. Bassendean: 6.3 burglary rate
8. South Perth: 5.6 burglary rate
9. Canning: 5.2 burglary rate
10. Peppermint Grove: 5.0 burglary rate

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Rest of WA

For the rest of West Australia, the 10 postcodes with the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people were:

1. Wiluna: 86.0 burglary rate (high crime rate due to low population)
2. Derby-West Kimberley: 50.2 burglary rate
3. Broome: 41.6 burglary rate
4. Meekatharra: 40.8 burglary rate
5. Halls Creek: 40.6 burglary rate
6. Ngaanyatjarraku:36.8 burglary rate
7. Mount Magnet: 36.8 burglary rate
8. Wyndham-East Kimberley: 36.2 burglary rate
9. Katanning: 19.2 burglary rate
10. Carnarvon 17.9 burglary rate

Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 8/04/2024. Based on the number of crimes per 1,000 population recorded by Locality for burglary (dwelling) from the WA Police Force. Localities categorised into Local Government Areas and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas per ABS Mappings. LGAs filtered based on a population greater than 500

South Australia crime statistics by suburb

Using data from the South Australia Police, Canstar found the following postcodes had the highest burglary rates in Greater Adelaide and the rest of South Australia for the 6 month period of July 2023 to December 2023.

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Greater Adelaide

Christie Downs had the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people in Greater Adelaide. This was followed by Norton Summit and then Ashton. Here are the top 10 burglary hotspots in Greater Adelaide, with postcodes shown in brackets:

1. Christie Downs (5164): 3.8 burglary rate
2. Norton Summit (5135): 3.6 burglary rate
3. Ashton (5137): 3.6 burglary rate
4. Angle Vale (5117): 3.5 burglary rate
5. Eyre, Macdonald Park, Penfield (5121): 3.4 burglary rate
6. Birkenhead, Ethelton, Glanville, New Port, Port Adelaide (5015): 3.3 burglary rate
7. Osborne, Taperoo (5017): 3.3 burglary rate
8. Novar Gardens (5040): 3.2 burglary rate
9. Adelaide (5000): 2.7 burglary rate
10. Sellicks Beach, Sellicks Hill (5174): 2.7 burglary rate

Top 10 burglary hotspots – Rest of SA

For the rest of South Australia, the 10 postcodes with the highest burglary rates per 1,000 people were:

1. Coober Pedy (5723): 27 burglary rate
2. Ceduna, Merghiny,Penong, Thevenard (5690): 9.6 burglary rate
3. Davenport, Port Augusta, Port, Augusta West (5700): 6.1 burglary rate
4. Port Lincoln (5606) 5.3 burglary rate
5. Gladstone (5473) 4.0 burglary rate
6. Whyalla Norrie, Whyalla Stuart (5608): 3.7 burglary rate
7. Tothill Belt, Tothill Creek, Waterloo (5413): 3.6 burglary rate
8. Middleton (5213): 3.1 burglary rate
9. Whyalla Jenkins (5609): 2.5 burglary rate
10. Lameroo ( 5302): 2.3 burglary rate

Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 5/04/2024. Based on rates per 1,000 population by state suburb of Serious Criminal Trespass (Residential) from SAPOL. Postcodes are categorised into Greater Capital City Statistical Areas per ABS Mappings. Excludes postcodes with a total population below 500.

Cover image source: Jandrie Lombard/Shutterstock.com