4510.0 - Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/05/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

MEDIA RELEASE

May 27, 2004
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
85/2004
Property crime figures fall again

For the second consecutive year (to 2003) the number of recorded property crimes fell in Australia, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Comparing 2003 with 2002, decreases were recorded in the following property offences:
  • motor vehicle theft decreased by 13%
  • robbery decreased by 6%
  • unlawful entry with intent decreased by 10% (this was at its lowest since national reporting began in 1993)
  • other theft decreased by 6% (which includes theft from people, retail premises and motor vehicles).


Most other offence categories also recorded decreases in 2003 including attempted murder (down 12%), and murder (down 5%). In particular, the number of recorded assault victims decreased for the first time since 1995 (a decrease of 1% since 2002).

Other findings for 2003 include:
  • A weapon was more likely to be used in offences of murder or attempted murder than in other offences. A knife was used in 29% of murder offences, up from 23% in 2002.
  • Approximately 70% of victims of murder and attempted murder were males.
  • Just over 80% of victims of sexual assault were females.
  • The offence categories which recorded increases in 2003 from 2002 were driving causing death (up 15%), blackmail/extortion (up 4%), sexual assault (up 2%) and kidnapping/abduction (up 1%).


Further information is in Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2003 (cat. no. 4510.0).