Wonthaggi town, VIC Crime Rate By Suburb: Is it safe?

According to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, Wonthaggi crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 12574 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 11% increase from the previous year.

Wonthaggi Crime Index

31

(100 is safest)

Safer than 31% of most Australia cities

Wonthaggi Crime Map

Is Wonthaggi Safe?

Wonthaggi has low safety metrics. Crime rates in Wonthaggi are quite a bit higher than the average of Australian urban areas. Wonthaggi is safer than 31% of all Australian communities and than 17% of Victoria cities and towns. However, breach family violence order is a common offence in Wonthaggi.

Wonthaggi Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in Wonthaggi town 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 Wonthaggi.

• The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year 2022 was 1058, up 11% from 957 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

• Wonthaggi is in the 17th percentile for safety, meaning 83% of Victoria urban areas are safer than Wonthaggi and 17% of urban areas are more dangerous than Wonthaggi.

• Common crime: breach family violence order.

• Safest suburb in Wonthaggi town: North Wonthaggi suburb.

• Top areas to avoid in Wonthaggi town (bad areas): Wonthaggi suburb.

• The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 9% (12 Incidents) compared to the previous year..

• The number of deception offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 29% (10 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 increased by 54% (29 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of theft offences recorded in 2022 increased by 28% (49 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• There was no change in the number of robbery offences recorded during the years 2021 and 2022.

• The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2022 increased by 183% (11 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded in 2022 decreased by 21% (27 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

Crime in Wonthaggi: An In-Depth Analysis

AU Crime Rate’s analysis of recent crime data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria reveals that Wonthaggi’s crime rate is quite a bit higher than the average of Australian urban areas, as it is ranked safer than only 31% of communities across the country, irrespective of population size.

Approximately 83% of Victoria cities and towns have a lower crime rate compared to Wonthaggi town. Therefore, Wonthaggi’s public safety metrics are low.

How risky is that? Living in Wonthaggi comes with a statistical risk of 1 in 11 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 Wonthaggi’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 Wonthaggi.

AU Crime Rate’s analysis of Wonthaggi crime statistics shows that there are 2936 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 Wonthaggi town are 1 in 33.

Our analysis indicates that if you reside in Wonthaggi, 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 5217 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!

Wonthaggi Crime Rates by Offences Division

Wonthaggi 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: Wonthaggi 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 Wonthaggi. Here is Victoria’s total data for these offences can be used as a benchmark for comparison.

Wonthaggi 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: Wonthaggi vs Victoria, Australia

Here is a breakdown of Wonthaggi 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: Wonthaggi 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: Wonthaggi vs Victoria

Wonthaggi Crimes per Square KM

What’s the most common crime in Wonthaggi town?

According to the latest available data from the Crime Statistics Agency of Victoria (CSA), the most common type of crime in Wonthaggi is breach family violence order.

What is the crime rate in Wonthaggi town?

The overall crime rate in Wonthaggi town, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 12574 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 Wonthaggi town a safe place to live in?

Wonthaggi town is safer than 31% of cities and towns across Australia and the crime rates are quite a bit higher than the average of Australian urban areas. Compared to Victoria cities, Wonthaggi town is safer than 17% of other communities in the state which are considered low safety scores in Victoria.

What suburb has the highest crime rate in Wonthaggi town?

Wonthaggi is the suburb with the highest rate of reported criminal incidents in Wonthaggi town with a rate of 14828 incidents per 100,000 population, according to CSA 2022 data. Yet, Wonthaggi suburb is safer than 8% of Victoria suburbs.

What is the safest suburb in Wonthaggi town?

North Wonthaggi is the safest suburb in Wonthaggi town with a rate of 6638 incidents per 100,000 population as per CSA report. North Wonthaggi suburb is safer than 17% 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.

Wonthaggi 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