Most Dangerous Suburbs In Australia
Rachele ChernovBy Rachele Chernov
7 May 2026

Most Dangerous Suburbs In Australia

When choosing where to live, safety is an important thing to think about. One way to understand how safe an area is is by looking at its crime statistics.

Red Suburbs studied burglary statistics to find the main burglary hotspots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. They also looked at hotspot areas in each state outside these major cities. Depending on the data available, they studied crime statistics by suburb, postcode, local government area (LGA), or police division. They also compared the crime numbers with the population of each area.

Crime rates can be helpful, but they should not be treated as exact. Crime numbers can change over time, especially in areas with smaller populations.

10 Suburbs With The Highest Crime

  1. Adelaide, SA
  2. Sydney, NSW
  3. Perth (WA), WA
  4. Brisbane City, QLD
  5. South Hedland, WA
  6. Fortitude Valley, QLD
  7. Mandurah, WA
  8. Cannington, WA
  9. Port Augusta, SA
  10. Midland, WA

10 The Safest Suburbs In Australia

  1. Glen Waverley, VIC
  2. Castle Hill (NSW), NSW
  3. Baulkham Hills, NSW
  4. Mount Waverley, VIC
  5. Rowville, VIC
  6. Ryde, NSW
  7. Buderim, QLD
  8. Doncaster East, VIC
  9. Narre Warren South, VIC
  10. Bentleigh East, VIC

Most Dangerous State In Australia

Based on data from Red Suburbs, Western Australia is regularly ranked as the most dangerous state or territory in Australia.

Perth City view

Which State Has The Highest Property Crime?

Western Australia has the highest number of property crimes in Australia, with 52.53 property crimes for every 1,000 people.

Which State Has The Highest Violent Crime?

Western Australia has the highest number of violent crimes in Australia, with 22.99 violent crimes for every 1,000 people.

What Is The Safest State In Australia?

South Australia is often seen as the safest state in Australia because it has lower crime rates than many other states.

Crime Rates In Australia

According to the latest crime data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, police took action against 344,620 offenders across Australia in 2024–25. Overall crime levels stayed fairly steady, but the types of crimes changed.

One of the biggest changes was an increase in family and domestic violence offenders, which went up by about 8%. This became one of the largest crime categories in the country.

At the same time, youth offending dropped by about 5%. This continues a long-term trend of fewer young people being involved in crimes such as theft, drug offences, and public disorder incidents.

Safety Tips To Stay In Australia

Australia is a safe country with a stable government and a low crime rate. However, it is still important to stay careful when you are out.

  • Keep your bag and personal items close to you and where you can see them at all times.
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
  • Make sure you have enough money or a way to get home safely.
  • If possible, travel home with a friend or in a group, especially at night.
  • Try not to walk home alone after dark.
  • Never accept rides from strangers or hitchhike.
  • When crossing roads, use footpaths, pedestrian crossings, or traffic lights where available.

Getting Help

  • For emergencies or dangerous situations, call Australia’s emergency number, triple zero (000).
  • For non-urgent police help, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
  • For smaller issues, such as lost property, you can make a report through the police online community portal.
  • If you want to report criminal activity anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
  • You can also visit your local police station to make a report in person.
fire truck in Victoria

Conclusion

If you are visiting or moving to a city in Australia, it is a good idea to check the crime rate and safety rating before choosing where to live or stay. Some cities have higher crime levels than others.

We have shared a detailed look at some of the more dangerous cities in Australia using recent crime statistics. It is also important to take safety seriously and follow basic safety tips no matter which city you are in.

FAQ

Do You Have Data For Alice Springs?

Right now, Red Suburbs covers more than 97% of Australia’s population. However, data for Northern Territory and Tasmania is still missing. We are working hard to add this data in the future.

How To Compare Suburbs With The Highest Crime?

If you want to compare other suburbs in Australia, you can use the crime map on Red Suburbs.

Worst Neighborhoods In Australia?

The three suburbs with the highest crime levels in Australia are in Adelaide, Sydney, and Perth.

About Rachele Chernov

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