According to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, East Melbourne crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 20416 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 23% decrease from the previous year.

East Melbourne Crime Index

5

(100 is safest)

Safer than 5% of most Australia suburbs

East Melbourne Crime Map

East Melbourne crime map

Is East Melbourne Safe?

East Melbourne has low safety metrics. Crime rates in East Melbourne are considerably higher than the average across most suburbs in Australia. East Melbourne is safer than 5% of all Australian suburbs and than 5% of Victoria suburbs. However, steal from a motor vehicle is a common offence in East Melbourne.

East Melbourne Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in East Melbourne 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 East Melbourne.

60-month trend of criminal incidents across East Melbourne
  • The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year 2022 was 1000, down 23% from 1300 incidents recorded in the same period last year.
  • East Melbourne is in the 5th percentile for safety, meaning 95% of Victoria suburbs are safer than East Melbourne and 5% of suburbs are more dangerous than East Melbourne.
  • Common crime: steal from a motor vehicle.
  • The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 increased by 19% (13 Incidents) compared to the previous year..
  • The number of deception offences recorded in 2022 increased by 19% (13 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 35% (28 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of theft offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 20% (63 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of robbery offences recorded in 2022 increased by 150% (6 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2022 decreased by 30% (13 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded in 2022 increased by 15% (8 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

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Crime in East Melbourne: An In-Depth Analysis

According to AU Crime Rate’s analysis of the latest crime statistics from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, East Melbourne is ranked safer than 5% of the suburbs across Australia, regardless of population size. That means that East Melbourne crime rate is considerably higher than the average across most suburbs in Australia.

In Victoria, only about 95% of suburbs have a lower crime rate than East Melbourne. As a result, East Melbourne has low scores in public safety metrics.

If you are a resident of East Melbourne, your chance of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 7 (based on the total crime rate of crimes against the person and property combined) while the Victoria average is 1 in 19.

Let’s take a closer look at East Melbourne’s crime statistics and see how it fares in terms of crimes against person and property crimes. This information is crucial because it can shed light on whether violent or property crimes or both, are the primary factors driving East Melbourne’s overall crime rate. So, are you curious to learn more about East Melbourne’s crime data and what they reveal about the suburb’s safety and security? Let’s dive in!

AU Crime Rate’s analysis reveals that against the person crime rate in East Melbourne is 2940 per one hundred thousand inhabitants while the Victoria average rate is 1247. So, one’s chances of becoming a victim of crimes against the person in East Melbourne is 1 in 33. The crimes against the person included in this analysis are homicide, assault, robbery, dangerous and negligent acts endangering people, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour.

From our analysis, we discovered that your odds of becoming a victim of a property crime if you live in East Melbourne is 1 in 10. This is equal to a rate of 9147 per one hundred thousand residents compared to a rate of 3580 per 100,000 residents for Victoria state. It’s worth mentioning that the property crimes tracked here include theft, burglary, arson, deception, bribery and damage to property.

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!

East Melbourne Crime Rates by Offences Division

DivisionNumber of CrimesCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Crimes against the person1442940
Property and deception offences4489147
Drug offences561143
Public order and security offences1012062
Justice procedures offences631286
Other offences1883838
Total100020416

East Melbourne 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

1 in 33

In East Melbourne

1 in 78

In Victoria

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

Violent crimes against the person in East Melbourne vs Victoria in Australia

Crimes Against the Person: East Melbourne vs Victoria

East Melbourne population: 4898

Victoria population: 6503491

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (per 100,000 residents)VIC Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents)
Assault and related offences68453911654689
Robbery10235020436
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people8629316396
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour3013324612202

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

CrimesVictoria Total Criminal incidentsVIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 residents)
Homicide and related offences1983
Sexual offences13576206

East Melbourne 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

1 in 10

In East Melbourne

1 in 27

In Victoria

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

Property offences in East Melbourne vs Victoria

Property and Deception Offences: East Melbourne vs Victoria, Australia

East Melbourne population: 4898

Victoria population: 6503491

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)VIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Property damage60383521225582
Burglary/Break and enter51296211041449
Theft25613866852272103
Arson121242032
Deception80272751633414
Bribery0300.05

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

CrimesNo. of offencesRate
Motor vehicle theft31633
Steal from motor vehicle781592
Steal from retail store120
Aggravated burglary6122
Non-aggravated burglary45919

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 in East Melbourne vs VIC

Drug Offences: East Melbourne vs Victoria

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)VIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Drug use and possession4824069980365
Drug dealing and trafficking7373414357
Cultivate or manufacture drugs117162026
Other drug offences049308

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 comparison chart

Public Order and Security Offences: East Melbourne vs Victoria

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)VIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Public nuisance offences9391818459
Disorderly and offensive conduct6091741225139
Public security offences037506
Weapons and explosives offences3214941653227

East Melbourne Crimes per Square KM

Crimes per square km in East Melbourne vs VIC

What’s the most common crime in East Melbourne?

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

What is the crime rate in East Melbourne?

The overall crime rate in East Melbourne, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 20416 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 East Melbourne a safe place to live in?

East Melbourne is safer than 5% of suburbs across Australia and the crime rates are considerably higher than the average across most suburbs in Australia. Compared to Victoria suburbs, East Melbourne is safer than 5% of other suburbs in the state which are considered low safety scores in Victoria.

Total Crime Stats of East Melbourne

Offence DivisionOffence SubdivisionOffence GroupYear (2021)Year (2022)
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesFamily violence serious assault39
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesNon-Family violence serious assault1216
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesFamily violence common assault119
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesNon-family violence common assault3027
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesA22 Assault police, emergency services or other authorised officer1220
A Crimes against the personA50 RobberyA51 Aggravated robbery37
A Crimes against the personA50 RobberyA52 Non-aggravated robbery13
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourFamily violence stalking13
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourNon-Family violence stalking36
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourFamily violence threatening behaviour13
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourNon-Family violence threatening behaviour1111
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourFamily violence harassment and private nuisance11
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourNon-Family harassment and private nuisance16
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA81 Dangerous driving01
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA82 Neglect or ill treatment of people00
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA83 Throw or discharge object endangering people22
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA89 Other dangerous or negligent acts endangering people45
B Property and deception offencesB10 ArsonB11 Cause damage by fire61
B Property and deception offencesB10 ArsonB12 Cause a bushfire00
B Property and deception offencesB10 ArsonB19 Other fire related offences00
B Property and deception offencesB20 Property damageB21 Criminal damage4847
B Property and deception offencesB20 Property damageB22 Graffiti311
B Property and deception offencesB20 Property damageB29 Other property damage offences12
B Property and deception offencesB30 Burglary/Break and enterB31 Aggravated burglaryn.a.6
B Property and deception offencesB30 Burglary/Break and enterB32 Non-aggravated burglaryn.a.45
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB41 Motor vehicle theft4431
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB42 Steal from a motor vehiclen.a.78
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB43 Steal from a retail store71
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB44 Theft of a bicycle3831
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB45 Receiving or handling stolen goods3532
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB46 Fare evasion00
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB49 Other theft9583
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB51 Forgery and counterfeiting26
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB52 Possess equipment to make false instrument10
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB53 Obtain benefit by deception4768
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB54 State false information54
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB55 Deceptive business practices00
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB56 Professional malpractice and misrepresentation11
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB59 Other deception offences111
B Property and deception offencesB60 BriberyB61 Bribery of officials00
C Drug offencesC10 Drug dealing and traffickingC11 Drug dealing00
C Drug offencesC10 Drug dealing and traffickingC12 Drug trafficking97
C Drug offencesC20 Cultivate or manufacture drugsC21 Cultivate drugs01
C Drug offencesC20 Cultivate or manufacture drugsC22 Manufacture drugs00
C Drug offencesC20 Cultivate or manufacture drugsC23 Possess drug manufacturing equipment or precursor30
C Drug offencesC30 Drug use and possessionC31 Drug use00
C Drug offencesC30 Drug use and possessionC32 Drug possession9148
C Drug offencesC90 Other drug offencesC99 Other drug offences00
D Public order and security offencesD10 Weapons and explosives offencesD11 Firearms offences73
D Public order and security offencesD10 Weapons and explosives offencesD12 Prohibited and controlled weapons offences2328
D Public order and security offencesD10 Weapons and explosives offencesD13 Explosives offences01
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD21 Riot and affray210
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD22 Drunk and disorderly in public2014
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD23 Offensive conduct620
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD24 Offensive language13
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD25 Criminal intent49
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD26 Disorderly conduct04
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD31 Privacy offences00
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD32 Hoaxes13
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD33 Begging00
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD34 Defamation and libeln.a.0
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD35 Improper movement on public or private space16
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD36 Other public nuisance offences00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD41 Immigration offences00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD43 Hacking740
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD44 Terrorism offences00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD49 Other public security offences00
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE11 Escape custodyn.a.1
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE12 Fail to appear00
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE13 Resist or hinder officer1526
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE14 Pervert the course of justice or commit perjury10
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE15 Prison regulation offences10
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE19 Other justice procedures offences10
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE21 Breach family violence order2723
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE22 Breach intervention order18
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE23 Breach bail conditions95
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE29 Breach of other orders20
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF11 Drink drivingn.a.0
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF12 Drug driving0n.a.
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF15 Licensing offencesn.a.0
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF19 Other regulatory driving offences00
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF21 Public transport03
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF22 Aviation regulations offences00
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF23 Maritime regulations offences01
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF24 Pedestrian offences00
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF29 Other transport regulation offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF31 Betting and gaming offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF32 Commercial regulation offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF33 Liquor and tobacco licensing offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF34 Pornography and censorship offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF36 Prostitution offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF39 Other government regulatory offences00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF91 Environmental offences00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF92 Public health and safety offences363183
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF93 Cruelty to animals00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF94 Dangerous substance offences00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF99 Other miscellaneous offences01

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

Greater Capital City Statistical Area

Greater Melbourne

State

Victoria