For the first time in more than a decade, break-ins have increased across Australia.
New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, shows 194,100 households, or 2 per cent, have been broken into in the past financial year.
ABS head of crime and justice statistics Will Milne says that’s an increase from a record low the previous 12 months.
“This was up from the lowest recorded rate of 1.7 per cent (171,600) in 2020-21, which coincided with sustained periods of lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions across Australia.
Locally, Townsville recorded around 4,600 break-ins between July 2021 and June 2022, according to Queensland Police statistics.
Mr Milne says it’s the first time in more than ten years that Australia’s seen an increase in the crime.
The victimisation rate was 3.3 per cent when data was first collected in 2008-09.
Despite the increase, the data has found the rate in 2021-22 still remains lower than pre-pandemic levels of 2.4 per cent recorded in 2018-19.
The report has also found property was stolen in around two-thirds of break-ins.
Personal items like handbags, jewellery or clothing were the most often taken.
