4510.0 - Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/06/2005   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 23, 2005
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
74/2005
Motor Vehicle Theft, Unlawful Entry With Intent and Homicide Lowest on Record: ABS

Recorded victims of motor vehicle theft, unlawful entry with intent and homicide in Australia were at their lowest level in 2004 since national reporting began in 1993, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Comparing 2004 with 2003, decreases were recorded for victimisation rates for the following offences:
  • Unlawful entry with intent decreased by 14% to 1,534 victims per 100,000 people;
  • Motor vehicle theft decreased by 12% to 437 victims per 100,000 people;
  • Robbery decreased by 17% to 82 victims per 100,000 people;
  • Homicide and related offences decreased by 19% to 4 victims per 100,000 people;
  • Blackmail/extortion decreased by 5% to 2 victims per 100,000 people; and,
  • Other theft (which includes theft from people, retail premises and motor vehicles) decreased by 13% to 2,724 victims per 100,000 people.
Other findings for 2004 include:
  • A firearm was used in 5% of robberies (the lowest on record);
  • A weapon was more likely to have been used in attempted murder (73%) and murder (59%) than in other offences. A knife was the most common type of weapon used and was involved in 32% of attempted murders;
  • Victims of murder and attempted murder were more likely to have been subjected to the offence in a residential location; and,
  • Approximately 70% of victims of attempted murder, robbery and blackmail/extortion were men whereas nearly 70% of victims of kidnapping/abduction were women.

Media Note: Data are only presented for those offences that are currently comparable across states and territories. The offences of assault and sexual assault are currently not comparable due to differences in recording across states and territories.

More details are in Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2004 (cat. no. 4510.0).