Theft reaches 21 year high

Media Release
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Released
3/09/2025
Source
Recorded Crime - Victims, 2024
Release date and time
03/09/2025 11:30am AEST

Victims of theft (excluding motor vehicles) recorded by police rose by six per cent in 2024 to reach the highest number since 2003, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Samantha Hall, ABS head of crime and justice statistics, said: ‘There were 595,660 recorded victims of theft in 2024. These thefts, which includes things like shoplifting and pickpocketing, but not motor vehicle thefts, have been continually rising since a drop during 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.

  1. excludes motor vehicle theft

‘The largest rise over the past year was in Victoria, up 29 per cent, followed by Tasmania, which rose by 11 per cent. 

‘Thefts at retail locations rose from 32 per cent of all thefts in 2010 to 45 per cent in 2024. Meanwhile, thefts from residential locations have dropped from 30 to 25 per cent of all thefts over the same period.’ 

  1. excludes motor vehicle theft

The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded by police also rose in 2024, up 8 per cent to 65,603 victims.

Media notes

  • Recorded Crime – Victims presents statistics relating to victims of crime for a selected range of offences as recorded by police.
  • A victim for the purposes of this publication is defined by the type of offence committed. This can be a person, premises, an organisation or a motor vehicle.
  • The theft data outlined in this media release excludes motor vehicle theft and includes theft that involves the unlawful taking of money, goods, or services, without the use of force, threat of force or violence, coercion or deception; with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner or possessor of the money, goods, or services.
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team via media@abs.gov.au (9am-5pm Mon-Fri).
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