Foreword

Household burglary is the fourth most common crime affecting citizens of New South Wales. Victims can suffer both financial loss and emotional pain as a direct result of these crimes. Fear of being a victim of a household burglary may also make citizens feel unsafe in their own homes and lose confidence in their police force.

Reducing household burglary continues to be a priority for the Government. The NSW State Plan includes a strategy to reduce rates of crime, including household burglaries. Other strategies to reduce antisocial behaviour and the rate of reoffending may also help to reduce the crime rate.

Overall, the number of household burglaries has declined by 30 per cent over the last five years. This downward trend is pleasing for all of us, although we should not become complacent. The rate of household burglary varies across the state with residents in some communities at greater risk of being burgled than others.

This audit assesses how well the NSW Police Force uses the resources at its disposal to reduce household burglaries and catch offenders.

This report examines the strategies that police use to prevent and detect these crimes, and highlights good practices used in commands around the state and by police forces elsewhere.

Peter Achterstraat

Auditor-General

June 2007