Crime Rates for Melbourne, VIC
⇌ Compare Melbourne with another suburbAs of the Jun 2026 data release, The Melbourne (3000,3004,3052) crime rate for the 2026 was calculated from 25911 reported criminal offences, equating to a rate of 47,162 offences per 100,000 people. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the population of Melbourne, VIC in 2021 was 54,941. In the last 10 years, Melbourne, VIC's crime rate has seen an increase. Recent data indicates that the rate of Assault and Robbery is 1 offence per 20.5 people. Regarding property crime (Burglary and Theft）, the rate is 1 offence per 5 people. In addition, the rate of total Community Safety (Stalking and Harassment) is 1 offence per 172.8 people. When considering these numbers, it is also important to consider the trends of these numbers compared to the greater melbourne area.
Most Common Crimes in Melbourne for 2026: B Property and deception offences (15434), A Crimes against the person (4217), E Justice procedures offences (3137).
| Type/Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16733 | 22835 | 22752 | 21420 | 21853 | 21161 | 19503 | 20297 | 22051 | 25015 | 25911 |
| A Crimes against the person | 2039 | 3050 | 3142 | 2844 | 3028 | 2504 | 2726 | 3197 | 3343 | 4013 | 4217 |
| B Property and deception offences | 9132 | 12749 | 12509 | 10801 | 12117 | 10048 | 9051 | 10205 | 12391 | 15591 | 15434 |
| C Drug offences | 832 | 1329 | 1376 | 1631 | 1544 | 1930 | 1537 | 1562 | 1354 | 1367 | 1441 |
| D Public order and security offences | 2489 | 2742 | 3006 | 3011 | 2432 | 1796 | 1626 | 2345 | 1680 | 1474 | 1625 |
| E Justice procedures offences | 2187 | 2871 | 2582 | 2826 | 2672 | 2016 | 2575 | 2906 | 3199 | 2511 | 3137 |
| F Other offences | 54 | 94 | 137 | 307 | 60 | 2867 | 1988 | 82 | 84 | 59 | 57 |
In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 25911 total crime incidents. Over the period from 2016 to 2026, overall crime has increased. Cumulatively over this period, the most common crime type was 'B Property and deception offences' with 130028 reported cases.
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Latest Crime Rates
| Type | offences (2026) | offences (2025) | Changes(%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault and related offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 2453 reported cases of Assault and related offences. | 2453 | 2348 | 4.47% |
| Robbery In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 222 reported cases of Robbery. | 222 | 247 | -10.12% |
| Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 318 reported cases of Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour. | 318 | 318 | 0.00% |
| Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 146 reported cases of Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people. | 146 | 174 | -16.09% |
| crimes against the person In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 1078 reported cases of crimes against the person. | 1078 | 926 | 16.41% |
| Arson In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 52 reported cases of Arson. | 52 | 37 | 40.54% |
| Property damage In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 1503 reported cases of Property damage. | 1503 | 1511 | -0.53% |
| Burglary/Break and enter In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 1239 reported cases of Burglary/Break and enter. | 1239 | 1289 | -3.88% |
| Theft In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 9668 reported cases of Theft. | 9668 | 10915 | -11.42% |
| Deception In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 2972 reported cases of Deception. | 2972 | 1836 | 61.87% |
| Bribery In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 0 reported cases of Bribery. | 0 | 3 | -100.00% |
| Drug dealing and trafficking In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 154 reported cases of Drug dealing and trafficking. | 154 | 197 | -21.83% |
| Cultivate or manufacture drugs In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 42 reported cases of Cultivate or manufacture drugs. | 42 | 55 | -23.64% |
| Drug use and possession In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 1244 reported cases of Drug use and possession. | 1244 | 1115 | 11.57% |
| Other drug offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 1 reported cases of Other drug offences. | 1 | 0 | 100.00% |
| Weapons and explosives offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 707 reported cases of Weapons and explosives offences. | 707 | 627 | 12.76% |
| Disorderly and offensive conduct In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 696 reported cases of Disorderly and offensive conduct. | 696 | 546 | 27.47% |
| Public nuisance offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 209 reported cases of Public nuisance offences. | 209 | 271 | -22.88% |
| Public security offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 13 reported cases of Public security offences. | 13 | 30 | -56.67% |
| Justice procedures In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 430 reported cases of Justice procedures. | 430 | 427 | 0.70% |
| Breaches of orders In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 2707 reported cases of Breaches of orders. | 2707 | 2084 | 29.89% |
| Regulatory driving offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 0 reported cases of Regulatory driving offences. | 0 | 3 | -100.00% |
| Transport regulation offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 23 reported cases of Transport regulation offences. | 23 | 16 | 43.75% |
| Other government regulatory offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 18 reported cases of Other government regulatory offences. | 18 | 25 | -28.00% |
| Miscellaneous offences In 2026, Melbourne, VIC recorded 16 reported cases of Miscellaneous offences. | 16 | 15 | 6.67% |
Overview
No of offences (As of Year 2026 Mar), people in 2021Crime rates are shown as offences per 100,000 people. These figures are based on the latest reported offences and population data from the last census (2021). Rates may appear higher or lower than current reality depending on population changes, so it is difficult to declare any suburb completely safe or unsafe.
How safe do you feel in Melbourne, VIC?
Based on community voting, safety perceptions in Melbourne, VIC are mixed, with a higher share reporting feeling unsafe. Results reflect personal perception and are not official crime statistics.
FAQ About Crime in Melbourne, VIC
How common is car theft in the Melbourne, VIC?
As of Year 2026 Mar, there were 633 motor vehicle theft offenses recorded, averaging 2 offense(s) every day.
What are the most commonly stolen property items in burglary/break and enter and theft offences in Melbourne, VIC?
As of Year 2026 Mar, the most commonly stolen items in Melbourne, VIC are Personal Property (17144), Cash/Document (16173), Clothing (13126), Electrical Appliances (12163) and Food (7426).
What is the crime rate in Melbourne, VIC?
Melbourne, VIC has a crime rate of 25911 reported criminal offences.
Is Melbourne, VIC a safe suburb?
Based on official statistics, Melbourne, VIC may be considered less safe compared to the overall state average, as its crime rate of 47,162 offenses per 100,000 people is higher than the overall crime rate in Victoria.
What is the most common crime in Melbourne, VIC?
In 2026, the most common crime type in Melbourne, VIC was B Property and deception offences with 15434 reported offences.
Has crime in the Melbourne, VIC increased or decreased in the past 5 years?
Crime rates in Melbourne, VIC have increased by 22% compared to five years ago.
What is rate of criminal against person in Melbourne, VIC?
As of Year 2026 Mar, there were 4217 offenses against persons in Melbourne, VIC, including robbery, assault, stalking, and other crimes.
What is the rate of property crime in Melbourne, VIC?
As of Year 2026 Mar, there were 12462 property crime offenses in Melbourne, VIC, including arson, theft, burglary, and other related crimes.
What is the number of drug offenses in Melbourne, VIC?
As of Year 2026 Mar, Melbourne, VIC recorded 1441 drug offenses, including drug dealing, drug use, drug manufacturing, and other related crimes.
Community Snapshot – Melbourne (2021)
Melbourne is a busy suburb with 54941 people. This suburb has a small number of families with children, only 15.2% of households with an average household size of 1.7 people. The median household weekly income is $1448, though the unemployment rate stands at 8.6%. Reflecting its rich cultural diversity, only 26.6% of people were born in Australia, highlighting the suburb’s multicultural character.
Population Overview
- Total People (2021)
- Total People (2025 estimate)
- Couple Families with Children
- Average Household Size
Income & Employment
- Median Household Weekly Income
- Unemployment Rate
Cultural Diversity
- Born Australia
Crime Statistics
Safest suburbs around Melbourne, VIC
If you’re considering living near Melbourne , you might also be interested in these nearby suburbs, which consistently report lower crime rates and offer family-friendly amenities.
- Albert Park - 758 offences (0.12541 per 100,000 people)
- South Yarra - 3400 offences (0.13585 per 100,000 people)
- Carlton - 3114 offences (0.19396 per 100,000 people)
- Southbank - 4725 offences (0.20878 per 100,000 people)
- East Melbourne - 1150 offences (0.23489 per 100,000 people)
- Cremorne - 544 offences (0.25209 per 100,000 people)
- Fitzroy - 2937 offences (0.28156 per 100,000 people)
- South Melbourne - 3561 offences (0.30837 per 100,000 people)
- South Wharf - 409 offences (5.76056 per 100,000 people)
AI Analysis
- Overall crime shows an upward trend from 2016 to 2026, with violent crimes such as assault increasing notably after 2020 and peaking in 2026.
- Theft is the dominant property crime, rising sharply especially between 2021 and 2026, reaching nearly 10,000 incidents in 2026.
- Assault and related offences represent the primary violent crime category, doubling from around 1,371 in 2016 to 2,453 in 2026.
- There is a major spike in breaches of orders and deception offences around 2023-2026, signaling increased challenges in public safety enforcement.
- The data suggests a growing safety concern due to rising violent assaults and high-volume thefts, emphasizing the need for targeted crime prevention strategies.
Disclaimer: This content is AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information independently.
*Unincorporated/Out Of Council - Areas that are not governed by a local government authority
Source: Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Australian Bureau of Statistics
Voices from Melbourne
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