SOUTH AUSTRALIA

HOMICIDE AND RELATED OFFENCES

The number of victims of Homicide and related offences recorded in South Australia increased for the third consecutive year to 48 victims in 2017. Almost half of these offences were Murders (23 victims). Nearly two-thirds of all Homicide victims were male (31 victims). (Tables 6 and 7)

The majority of victims of this offence knew the offender (69%), and almost two-thirds (58%) occurred at a residential location. A weapon was used in the majority of incidents (71%) with the most common weapon type being a knife (62%) (Tables 8, 9 and 11)


ASSAULT

Between 2016 and 2017 the number of victims of Assault in South Australia decreased by 5% from 16,978 to 16,213 victims. This resulted in a victimisation rate decrease of 53 victims, to 941 victims per 100,000 persons. This was the third highest rate for this offence across all jurisdictions for which Assault data are published. (Table 6)

Female victims accounted for more than half (52%) of victims of Assault in South Australia (8,448 victims). A higher proportion of female victims knew the offender (83%) compared to males (53%). Males accounted for a higher proportion of victims assaulted by a stranger (73% or 3,429 victims). (Tables 12 and 13)

In 2017 the majority (56%) of Assaults occurred at a residential location (9,040 victims). The majority of Assaults in South Australia did not involve the use of a weapon (78% or 12,594 victims). (Tables 8 and 9)


ROBBERY

In South Australia, the number of victims of Robbery recorded decreased from 543 victims in 2016 to 459 victims in 2017. Since the beginning of the time series in 2010, the number of Robbery victims has decreased for seven consecutive years, with an overall reduction of 60% (or 681 victims), which was the highest percentage decrease across all jurisdictions for this offence over this time frame.

In 2017, the majority (70% or 275 victims) of Robbery victims in South Australia were male and the most prevalent age group for male victims was between 25 and 34 years (82 victims). (Tables 6 and 7)

Two-fifths (42%) of Robberies occurred at a street/footpath location (194 victims), almost a third (29%) occurred at a retail location (132 victims), while a further 12% occurred at a dwelling (54 victims).

Four out of ten (44%) Robberies in 2017 were armed (201 victims). Almost a quarter (22%) of all Robberies involved the use of a knife (99 victims), and a further 8% involved the use of a bat/bar/club (35 victims). (Tables 8 and 9)


UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

In 2017, the number of victims of Unlawful entry with intent in South Australia decreased to the lowest level since the beginning of the time series (in 2010) with 12,299 victims. This represented a 27% (or 4,529 victims) decrease in this offence since 2010. (Table 6)

In 2017, the majority (63%) of break-ins occurred at a dwelling (7,725 victims), while 14% occurred at a retail location (1,726 victims). (Table 8)


MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

The number of victims of Motor vehicle theft decreased by 15% (or 526 victims) from 2016 to reach its lowest levels since the beginning of the time series (in 2010), with 3,023 victims in 2017. Behind Victoria, this was the second highest percentage decrease for this offence across all jurisdictions. (Table 6)

In 2017, more than half (53%) of all motor vehicles were stolen from a residential location (1,592 victims) while almost a third (32%) were stolen from a street/footpath (961 victims). South Australia had the highest proportion of Motor vehicles stolen from a retail location (12% or 352 victims) across all jurisdictions. (Table 8)