How you can prevent crime

Not all crime is preventable, but there are things you can do to make it much less likely that you'll be victimised.

Is your home as safe from burglars as it could be?

We want to keep burglary rates down, and we know you do too. So we've gathered lots of information on how thick your doors should be and what kind of locks are best, and put it all together.

You can even put a few facts about your own home into our online scorecard, and find out how secure experts think your property is.

Lock up!

Many of the steps suggested in this section are common sense, but they can make a real difference to your safety. By securing your home and property you can save yourself the distress and expense of crime, and make your community a safer and better place to live.

A burglar only needs to spot an open window, unlocked side gate or a cheap lock in order to make their move. Think about it – if you know your home security looks weak, so will a thief.

Many crimes are crimes of opportunity. Don't give thieves that chance. Working together, we can stop them.

Worried about crime?

Even as the number of reported crimes continues to drop, some people are still worried about crime. Here's some information that might help.

Your chances of becoming a victim of crime are the lowest they've been for 20 years – yet many people are more concerned about their personal safety than ever.

This is not completely irrational. Crimes continue to occur, and the way crime is reported in the media can be intimidating. A handful of major crimes get very heavy coverage, and this has the effect of making people feel more vulnerable. Localised problems with anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and graffiti can also make people feel less safe.

But the fact is, crime is on the decline. Take a look at the latest crime statistics. And not just on the streets. Crime on public transport is also dropping, and there are more police on trains than ever before.