Forest Hill, VIC 3131 Crime Rate: Is it safe?

According to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, Forest Hill crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 4358 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 14% decrease from the previous year.

Forest Hill Crime Index

43

(100 is safest)

Safer than 43% of most Australia suburbs

Forest Hill Crime Map

Is Forest Hill Safe?

Forest Hill has moderate safety metrics. Crime rates in Forest Hill are about average for most suburbs and neighborhoods in Australia. Forest Hill is safer than 43% of all Australian suburbs and than 45% of Victoria suburbs. However, steal from a motor vehicle is a common offence in Forest Hill.

Forest Hill Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in Forest Hill 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 Forest Hill.

• The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year 2022 was 471, down 14% from 546 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

• Forest Hill is in the 45th percentile for safety, meaning 55% of Victoria suburbs are safer than Forest Hill and 45% of suburbs are more dangerous than Forest Hill.

• Common crime: steal from a motor vehicle.

• The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 increased by 33% (15 Incidents) compared to the previous year..

• The number of deception offences recorded in 2022 increased by 24% (11 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 increased by 50% (15 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of theft offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 31% (66 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of robbery offences recorded in 2022 increased by 100% (1 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2022 increased by 5% (1 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded in 2022 decreased by 40% (23 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

Crime in Forest Hill: An In-Depth Analysis

According to AU Crime Rate’s analysis of the latest crime statistics from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, Forest Hill is ranked safer than 43% of the suburbs across Australia, regardless of population size. That means that Forest Hill crime rate is about average for most suburbs and neighborhoods in Australia.

In Victoria, only about 55% of suburbs have a lower crime rate than Forest Hill. As a result, Forest Hill has moderate scores in public safety metrics.

If you are a resident of Forest Hill, your chance of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 28 (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 Forest Hill’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 Forest Hill’s overall crime rate. So, are you curious to learn more about Forest Hill’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 Forest Hill is 870 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 Forest Hill is 1 in 114. 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 Forest Hill is 1 in 37. This is equal to a rate of 2628 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!

Forest Hill Crime Rates by Offences Division

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

Forest Hill 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: Forest Hill vs Victoria, Australia

Here is a breakdown of Forest Hill 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: Forest Hill 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: Forest Hill vs Victoria

Forest Hill Crimes per Square KM

What’s the most common crime in Forest Hill?

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

What is the crime rate in Forest Hill?

The overall crime rate in Forest Hill, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 4358 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 Forest Hill a safe place to live in?

Forest Hill is safer than 43% of suburbs across Australia and the crime rates are about average for most suburbs and neighborhoods in Australia. Compared to Victoria suburbs, Forest Hill is safer than 45% of other suburbs in the state which are considered moderate safety scores in Victoria.

Total Crime Stats of Forest Hill

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