Break-ins at Australian homes have increased for the first time in a decade, but the rate is still lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, new data shows.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that 2 per cent of Australian households — or 194,100 homes — experienced a break-in during the last financial year.
That's an increase from 1.7 per cent in the 2020-21 financial year, which was the lowest recorded rate, ABS head of crime and justice statistics William Milne said.
Back then, it was estimated that 171,600 households had been broken into across the nation as we grappled with the coronavirus pandemic.
"[This] coincided with sustained periods of lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions across Australia," he said.
However, despite the jump in the break-in rate between 2020-21 and 2021-22, ABS data shows the victimisation rate is still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Back in 2018-19, the rate was 2.4 per cent.
And in 2008-09, when the data was first collected, it was 3.3 per cent.
This week's report also found that the prevalence of all other household and personal crimes collected in the survey remained stable between 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Here's a state by state look:
New South Wales
During the 2020-2022 period:
Break-ins
- 1.3 per cent of households (38,300) experienced a break-in. Of this 71 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 1.3 per cent of households (39,900) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 45 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 0.4 per cent of households (11,400) experienced motor vehicle theft. Police say 84 per cent of these cases were reported
- 1.6 per cent of households (50,100) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, and just over half (51 per cent) of these cases were reported to the police
Property damage
- 3 per cent of households (92,100) experienced malicious property damage, of which 48 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 1.7 per cent of households (51,400) experienced other theft, of which 30 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Between 2018-2020 and 2020-2022:
- Break-ins declined from 1.9 per cent to 1.3 per cent
- Malicious property damage declined from 3.7 per cent to 3 per cent
Victoria
During 2020-22:
Break-ins
- 1.8 per cent of households (45,800) experienced a break-in, of which 75 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 1.4 per cent of households (36,000) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 42 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 0.5 per cent of households (12,000) experienced motor vehicle theft, of which 96 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.8 per cent of households (70,900) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 58 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 3.9 per cent of households (97,200) experienced malicious property damage, of which 52 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.1 per cent of households (53,700) experienced other theft, of which 39 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Between 2018-20 and 2020-22:
- Break-ins declined from 2.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent
- Malicious property damage dropped from 4.7 per cent to 3.9 per cent
Queensland
During 2020-22:
Break-ins
- 2.2 per cent of households (44,900) experienced a break-in, of which 62 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.8 per cent of households (55,500) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 44 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 0.7 per cent of households (14,100) experienced motor vehicle theft, of which 90 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.2 per cent of households (43,100) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 60 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 4.0 per cent of households (80,200) experienced malicious property damage, of which 48 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.1 per cent of households (41,700) experienced other theft, of which 29 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Between 2018-20 and 2020-22:
- Attempted break-ins increased from 2.3 per cent to 2.8 per cent
South Australia
During 2020-22:
Break-ins
- 1.8 per cent of households (13,100) experienced a break-in, of which 70 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 1.8 per cent of households (13,300) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 48 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 0.4 per cent of households (2,600) experienced motor vehicle theft, of which 84 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.8 per cent of households (20,800) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 51 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 3.8 per cent of households (28,100) experienced malicious property damage, of which 48 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.2 per cent of households (15,900) experienced other theft, of which 38 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Between 2018-20 and 2020-22:
- Break-ins declined from 2.4 per cent to 1.8 per cent
Western Australia
During 2020-2022:
Break-ins
- 2.7 per cent (28,400) experienced a break-in, of which 76 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.7 per cent of households (28,300) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 43 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 0.7 per cent (7,100) experienced motor vehicle theft, of which 91 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 3.9 per cent (40,400) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 43 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 6.1 per cent (63,400) experienced malicious property damage, of which 52 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 3.1 per cent (32,400) experienced other theft, of which 39 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Between 2018-20 and 2020-22
- Break-ins declined from 4.2 per cent to 2.7 per cent
- Theft from a motor vehicle declined from 4.7 per cent to 3.9 per cent
Tasmania:
During 2020-2022:
Break-ins
- 1.7 per cent (4,200) experienced a break-in, of which 68 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 1.7 per cent (4,000) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 40 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 0.7 per cent (1,600) experienced motor vehicle theft, of which 94 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 1.6 per cent (3,900) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 53 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 3.4 per cent (8,100) experienced malicious property damage, of which 54 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.0 per cent (4,800) experienced other theft, of which 34 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Between 2018-20 and 2020-22
- Malicious property damage declined from 4.7 per cent to 3.4 per cent
Northern Territory
During 2020-2022:
Break-ins
- 5.2 per cent (3,300) experienced a break-in, of which 70 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 5.7 per cent of households (3,600) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 53 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 1.5 per cent (1,000) experienced motor vehicle theft, of which 86 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 4.0 per cent (2,500) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 54 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 8.5 per cent (5,300) experienced malicious property damage, of which 59 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 3.2 per cent (2,000) experienced other theft, of which 48 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Australian Capital Territory
During 2020-2022:
Break-ins
- 2.4 per cent (4,200) experienced a break-in, of which 77 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.9 per cent (5,200) experienced an attempted break-in, of which 59 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Motor vehicle theft
- 3.0 per cent (5,400) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, of which 60 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
Property damage
- 5.5 per cent (9,800) experienced malicious property damage, of which 52 per cent reported the most recent incident to the police
- 2.3 per cent (4,100) experienced other theft
Between 2018-20 and 2020-22
- There was an increase in the attempted break-ins, up from 1.4 per cent to 2.9 per cent
Malicious property damage the most common crime in every state
An estimated 3.8 per cent of Australian households — or 374,400 homes — experienced malicious property damage.
The majority of these households experienced a single incident (80 per cent or 300,000).
Mr Milne said property was stolen in around two-thirds of break-ins (65 per cent).
“With personal items like handbags, jewellery or clothing most often taken," he said.
What types of property were damaged most?
Common types of property damaged, defaced or destroyed during the incident include:
- A car or other motor vehicle (27 per cent or 101,100)
- External doors (23 per cent or 85,100)
- Other exterior items, such as walls, fences and letterboxes (25 per cent or 93,400)
Jewellery and clothing among items most stolen
Common types of property stolen include:
- Personal items, such as jewellery and clothing (23 per cent or 44,300)
- Outdoor or garden items (21 per cent or 40,800)
- Bicycles or sporting equipment (18 per cent or 35,500)
