Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have recorded the highest number of incidents in six major crime categories across New South Wales, according to the latest quarterly report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). The data, covering crimes up to September 2025, shows the region leading the state in sexual assaults, break and enters, non-dwelling break-ins, malicious property damage, motor vehicle theft, and theft from motor vehicles.
The region reported 782 sexual assaults, 1,334 break and enters, 628 non-dwelling break-ins, 2,866 malicious property damage incidents, 1,182 stolen vehicles, and 2,563 thefts from motor vehicles. While the region's population of about 405,000 makes it the sixth-largest statistical area in the state, it recorded higher numbers than larger areas such as the Inner South West (621,000), Parramatta (540,000), and Blacktown (438,000).
BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald noted that while the region's rates are higher than the state average, it is not considered one of the highest crime areas. “I think the rate is high for some offences – stealing from a car is concerningly high, while the car theft and the burglary rates are also about 50 per cent higher than average,” she said. “That's not the end of the ledger you'd like to be at. But it's not as high as some parts of the state.”
A NSW Police spokesperson attributed the stable number of vehicle-related thefts to factors such as high-density parking near beaches, shopping precincts, and entertainment areas, which can create opportunities for opportunistic theft. In response, police are conducting targeted operations, proactive patrols, and intelligence-driven strategies. The spokesperson also urged the community to lock vehicles, remove valuables, and park in well-lit areas, noting that a recent review found many victims had left their vehicles unlocked.
Despite topping the state in malicious property damage and retail store thefts, the region saw declines of 9.6 per cent and 6.6 per cent in those categories, respectively. Other categories showed little to no change compared to 2024 figures. Meanwhile, the Hunter Valley excluding Newcastle experienced significant drops in other stealing offences (-24.2 per cent), non-dwelling break-ins (-14.1 per cent), and malicious property damage (-6 per cent), but recorded the second-highest number of sexual assaults (614).
Statewide, the two-year trend shows significant declines in seven of the 13 major crime categories, driven largely by reductions across regional NSW. The NSW Police spokesperson also addressed domestic violence and sexual assault offences, stating that stable or increasing reporting may indicate greater willingness among victims to come forward, and that police continue to prioritize these investigations.
