Somerville, VIC 3912 Crime Rate: Is it safe?

According to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, Somerville crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 3885 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 10% decrease from the previous year.

Somerville Crime Index

67

(100 is safest)

Safer than 67% of most Australia suburbs

Somerville Crime Map

Is Somerville Safe?

Somerville has high safety metrics. Crime rates in Somerville are below average to the majority of suburbs in Australia. Somerville is safer than 67% of all Australian suburbs and than 50% of Victoria suburbs. However, breach family violence order is a common offence in Somerville.

Somerville Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in Somerville 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 Somerville.

• The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year 2022 was 457, down 10% from 507 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

• Somerville is in the 50th percentile for safety, meaning 50% of Victoria suburbs are safer than Somerville and 50% of suburbs are more dangerous than Somerville.

• Common crime: breach family violence order.

• The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 increased by 8% (3 Incidents) compared to the previous year..

• The number of deception offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 62% (28 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 increased by 16% (3 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of theft offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 16% (17 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 29% (2 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded in 2022 decreased by 28% (16 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

Crime in Somerville: An In-Depth Analysis

Based on the latest crime statistics from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, AU Crime Rate’s analysis indicates that Somerville (Vic.) is safer than only 67% of all suburbs across the nation, regardless of population size. This implies that Somerville’s crime rate is below average to the majority of suburbs in Australia.

How does Somerville perform compared to other suburbs of all population sizes in Victoria? The crime rate in Somerville is greater than that of roughly 50% of other suburbs in Victoria, leading to high public safety scores.

As a resident of Somerville, the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 43 based on the combined crime rate of offences against the person and property. This is in contrast to the Victoria average, where the chance of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 19.

To get a more comprehensive understanding of Somerville’s crime statistics, it is essential to take a closer look at its against the person and property crime data. This examination is particularly critical because it enables us to determine whether violent crime, property crime, or both are the primary contributors to the total crime rate in Somerville. By doing so, we can gain a more in-depth insight into the nature and extent of crime in Somerville.

AU Crime Rate’s analysis has uncovered that the rate of crimes against the person in Somerville is 791 per one hundred thousand inhabitants. By contrast, the statewide average for such crimes stands at 1247. This suggests that experiencing serious offences like homicide, assault, robbery, dangerous and negligent acts endangering people, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour is 1 in 125 if you reside in Somerville.

Our data reveal that the odds of becoming a victim of property crime in Somerville are 1 in 65, with a rate of 1505 incidents per 100,000 residents. Keep in mind that the Victoria average is 3580 incidents per 100,000 residents. The types of property crimes tracked in this analysis 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!

Somerville Crime Rates by Offences Division

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

Somerville 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: Somerville vs Victoria, Australia

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

Somerville Crimes per Square KM

What’s the most common crime in Somerville?

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

What is the crime rate in Somerville?

The overall crime rate in Somerville, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 3885 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 Somerville a safe place to live in?

Somerville is safer than 67% of suburbs across Australia and the crime rates are below average to the majority of suburbs in Australia. Compared to Victoria suburbs, Somerville is safer than 50% of other suburbs in the state which are considered high safety scores in Victoria.

Total Crime Stats of Somerville

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