Ballarat city, VIC Crime Rate By Suburb: Is it safe?

According to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, Ballarat crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 9610 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 8% increase from the previous year.

Ballarat Crime Index

41

(100 is safest)

Safer than 41% of most Australia cities

Ballarat Crime Map

Is Ballarat Safe?

Ballarat has moderate safety metrics. Crime rates in Ballarat are near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in Australia. Ballarat is safer than 41% of all Australian communities and than 29% of Victoria cities and towns. However, steal from a motor vehicle is a common offence in Ballarat.

Ballarat Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in Ballarat city increased or decreased in the past 5 years? The chart below shows the 60-month historical trend of the number of offences that occurred in Ballarat.

• The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year 2022 was 10129, up 8% from 9416 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

• Ballarat is in the 29th percentile for safety, meaning 71% of Victoria urban areas are safer than Ballarat and 29% of urban areas are more dangerous than Ballarat.

• Common crime: steal from a motor vehicle.

• Safest suburb in Ballarat city: Miners Rest suburb.

• Top areas to avoid in Ballarat city (bad areas): Ballarat Central suburb.

• The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 3% (25 Incidents) compared to the previous year..

• The number of deception offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 13% (57 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 increased by 28% (161 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of theft offences recorded in 2022 increased by 22% (641 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of robbery offences recorded in 2022 increased by 105% (20 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2022 increased by 24% (95 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded in 2022 increased by 2% (17 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

Crime in Ballarat: An In-Depth Analysis

AU Crime Rate’s analysis of recent crime data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria reveals that Ballarat’s crime rate is near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in Australia, as it is ranked safer than only 41% of communities across the country, irrespective of population size.

Approximately 71% of Victoria cities and towns have a lower crime rate compared to Ballarat city. Therefore, Ballarat’s public safety metrics are moderate.

How risky is that? Living in Ballarat comes with a statistical risk of 1 in 14 of becoming a victim of crime, considering the total rate of crimes against the person and property. In contrast, the average chance of falling victim to crime in Victoria stands at 1 in 19.

To better understand Ballarat’s overall crime rate, it is essential to examine its performance in crimes against the person and property crimes separately. This approach can provide further insight into whether violent crimes, property crimes, or both, are the primary drivers of the general crime rate in Ballarat.

AU Crime Rate’s analysis of Ballarat crime statistics shows that there are 1351 incidents against the person per 100,000 inhabitants in a standard year, compared to the Victoria average rate of 1247. As a result, the chances of becoming a victim of crimes such as homicide, assault, robbery, dangerous and negligent acts endangering people, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour in Ballarat city are 1 in 73.

Our analysis indicates that if you reside in Ballarat, your chances of falling victim to property crimes, including theft, burglary, arson, deception, bribery and damage to property, are 1 in 18, equivalent to a rate of 5395 per 100,000 residents. As a reference, the property crime rate for every 100,000 residents in Victoria is 3580.

Want to understand criminal offences in Victoria and make sense of crime data? Our easy-to-understand crime glossary provides definitions for Victoria’s common criminal offences. Check it out and get the inside scoop on crime in Victoria!

Ballarat Crime Rates by Offences Division

Ballarat Crimes Against the Person

These are violent crimes against people whether these are family violence or non-family violence. Basically, if someone does something to hurt or scare another person, it’s considered a crime against the person. This includes:

• Assault and related offences: There are different types of assault, like serious assault, which is when someone causes really serious injuries as a result of a physical attack, and assault on police, emergency services or other authorised officers, which is when someone attacks a cop or a paramedic or someone doing their job. There’s also common assault, which is like when someone threatens to punch you or makes you feel scared for your safety.
• Robbery: There are two types of robbery or mugging: aggravated and non-aggravated. Aggravated robbery is when someone uses a weapon like a knife or a firearm (armed robbery) or causes serious harm to the victim during the robbery, like hitting them with a bat or a gun. Non-aggravated robbery is when someone doesn’t use a weapon or cause serious harm during the robbery but still uses force or the threat of force to take something from the victim.
• Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people: These refer to behaviours or actions that put others at risk of harm or injury due to carelessness or recklessness. Examples of dangerous and negligent acts include driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not properly securing a load on a vehicle that could fall and cause an accident, leaving hazardous materials unattended, and failing to maintain a property in a safe condition.
• Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour: This represents harassing or threatening someone based on their race, skin colour, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability, in what’s known as hate crimes. It also includes insulting someone, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Crime Against the Person

Crimes Against the Person Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Crimes Against the Person: Ballarat vs Victoria

It’s important to note that the crime rates for sexual offences and homicide are not included in the previously mentioned data for Ballarat. Here is Victoria’s total data for these offences can be used as a benchmark for comparison.

Ballarat Property and Deception Offences

These are crimes related to stealing or damaging property or deceiving someone for personal gain. Property crimes include:

• Theft: It can be committed in various forms such as shoplifting, stealing from a person’s home, or taking a vehicle without permission. Other examples include stealing a bicycle, snatching a purse, or taking items from an unattended bag.
• Burglary (unlawful entry): Aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries are examples of burglary. Aggravated burglary involves the use of weapons, threats, or violence during the break-in, while non-aggravated burglary does not involve such factors.
• Arson: Arson is a criminal act of intentionally setting fire to a property, building, or forest (bushfire)  without lawful or justifiable reason.
• Property damage: This refers to intentional or accidental harm caused to someone else’s property, such as vandalism, or graffiti.
• Deception: This is a broad category of offences that includes various examples. These include forgery and counterfeiting, deceptive business practices, professional malpractice and misrepresentation, and other similar offences. Additionally, it includes obtaining benefits by deception, possessing equipment to make a false instrument, and stating false information. All of these crimes involve intentionally deceiving others for personal gain or causing harm to others through fraudulent means.
• Bribery: Sneaky shortcut to get ahead by taking advantage of someone’s position or power.

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of Property and Deception Offences

Property and Deception Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Property and Deception Offences: Ballarat vs Victoria, Australia

Here is a breakdown of Ballarat crime rate and offences count for the major property and deception offences.

Drug Offences

Drug offences are illegal activities involving drugs like possession, trafficking, and manufacturing. It can involve both illicit and legal drugs like prescription medicines used improperly.

Drug Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Drug Offences: Ballarat vs Victoria

Public Order and Security Offences

Public order and security offences refer to crimes that threaten the safety and security of the community, such as disorderly conduct, possession of illegal weapons, public intoxication, and disturbing the peace. These offences can also include crimes that disrupt the functioning of society, like rioting, protesting without a permit, and obstructing traffic.

Public Order and Security Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Public Order and Security Offences: Ballarat vs Victoria

Ballarat Crimes per Square KM

What’s the most common crime in Ballarat city?

According to the latest available data from the Crime Statistics Agency of Victoria (CSA), the most common type of crime in Ballarat is steal from a motor vehicle.

What is the crime rate in Ballarat city?

The overall crime rate in Ballarat city, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 9610 in the year ending June 2022.

However, it’s important to note that this is an aggregate figure that includes all types of crime, and some types of offences are more prevalent than others. Additionally, crime rates can vary by location, with some areas experiencing higher rates of certain types of crime than others.

Is Ballarat city a safe place to live in?

Ballarat city is safer than 41% of cities and towns across Australia and the crime rates are near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in Australia. Compared to Victoria cities, Ballarat city is safer than 29% of other communities in the state which are considered moderate safety scores in Victoria.

What suburb has the highest crime rate in Ballarat city?

Ballarat Central is the suburb with the highest rate of reported criminal incidents in Ballarat city with a rate of 41136 incidents per 100,000 population, according to CSA 2022 data. Yet, Ballarat Central suburb is safer than 2% of Victoria suburbs.

What is the safest suburb in Ballarat city?

Miners Rest is the safest suburb in Ballarat city with a rate of 2767 incidents per 100,000 population as per CSA report. Miners Rest suburb is safer than 29% of Victoria suburbs.

However, it’s important to note that low crime rates do not necessarily guarantee safety, and that crime can occur anywhere, so it’s important to always stay vigilant and take appropriate safety measures.

Ballarat Crime Rate by Suburb

Note: This article doesn’t have detailed data for family violence, victims, female offenders, reoffending, sexual offences, stalking, and youth crime. For more information about these topics, check our resources page.

References

• Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census QuickStats for all persons
• Victoria Police