Wollongong · Council (LGA)

Crime & Safety in Wollongong

Recorded crime in the area — the overall offence rate per 100,000 residents, the mix of offence types, and how it is changing. Sourced from state and territory police data; offence definitions differ by state, so comparisons across state lines are indicative only.

Roughly the same as similar areas, Wollongong records 8,852 offences per 100,000 people. The crime rate here has fallen by 1.7% over the last five years, a drop that is lower than most other areas. Theft is the most common offence, accounting for 13.2% of all recorded crime.

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📍 Wollongong, Council (LGA)

Where Wollongong sits — Recorded offences per 100,000

8,852
  • 0–2,857: 10 areas
  • 2,857–5,714: 64 areas
  • 5,714–8,571: 71 areas
  • 8,571–11,429: 54 areas
  • 11,429–14,286: 34 areas
  • 14,286–17,143: 14 areas
  • 17,143–20,000: 8 areas
  • 20,000–22,857: 6 areas
  • 22,857–25,714: 1 area
  • 25,714–28,571: 1 area
  • 28,571–31,429: 4 areas
  • 31,429–34,286: 1 area
  • 34,286–37,143: 1 area
  • 37,143–40,000: 0 areas
  • 40,000–42,857: 0 areas
  • 42,857–45,714: 1 area
  • 45,714–48,571: 1 area
  • 48,571–51,429: 3 areas
  • 51,429–54,286: 0 areas
  • 54,286–57,143: 1 area
  • 57,143–60,000: 3 areas
  • 60,000–62,857: 0 areas
  • 62,857–65,714: 1 area
  • 65,714–68,571: 0 areas
  • 68,571–71,429: 0 areas
  • 71,429–74,286: 0 areas
  • 74,286–77,143: 1 area
  • 77,143–80,000: 5 areas

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Wollongong — higher than 53% of areas.

Crime overview

The overall recorded-offence rate and its five-year trend.

Total crime levels in Wollongong are around the middle for its level. Theft and assault are the most frequent offences, while drug crimes and property damage also feature prominently in the data.

8,852

Higher than 53% of council (lga) areas.

Total recorded criminal offences per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). The per-capita rate is the meaningful map metric — raw counts just track population. Offence definitions and counting rules differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

-1.7%

Lower than 68% of council (lga) areas.

Change in the recorded-offence rate over the latest five years — positive means crime is rising, negative means it is falling. Computed from each region's annual series.

Offence types

Rates for assault, sexual offences, robbery, burglary, theft, drugs and more.

Motor vehicle theft is much higher than most areas, and drug offences are also higher. This contrasts with rates for burglary and assault, which are both lower than most similar areas.

784

Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded assault & related per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

291

Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded sexual offences per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

22

Lower than 54% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded robbery per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

336

Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded burglary (unlawful entry) per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

1,171

Lower than 55% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded theft per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

581

Higher than 74% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded motor vehicle theft per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

645

Lower than 59% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded property damage per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

727

Higher than 65% of council (lga) areas.

Recorded drug offences per 100,000 residents per year (latest complete year, from the state/territory police service). Offence definitions differ by state, so cross-state comparisons are indicative only.

Sources

More for Wollongong

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Crime & Safety in Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA18450/wollongong/topic/crime-safety