Bethlehem Central

Tauranga CityBay of Plenty Region
Last updated:

Safety Score (12-month average)

72

Crime rate

7.4 per 1,000

Population 4,347

Total crimes (past 12 months)

32

Trend (last 3 months)

▲ 44.4%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#134 / 157

Bottom 15%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Updated August 2026

Bethlehem Central Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Sexual offences
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were theft (50.0%), burglary (31.3%), and sexual offences (12.5%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in Bethlehem Central is 7.3614 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 134 within Bay of Plenty Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Mar 2026, May 2026, Jun 2026.

Crime activity peaked in March, May, and June 2026.

Bethlehem Central crime statistics: common questions

Is Bethlehem Central safe?

Bethlehem Central recorded 32 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents across about 4,347 residents. These are offences recorded by New Zealand Police, which reflect what was reported and recorded rather than all crime that occurred.

What is the crime rate in Bethlehem Central?

The crime rate in Bethlehem Central is 7.4 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 32 recorded offences across about 4,347 residents. A rate counts offences against a suburb's resident population, so town centres and commercial areas can show high rates because offences there involve people who do not live there.

What is the most common crime in Bethlehem Central?

The most common offence category in Bethlehem Central is theft, with 16 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 50% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (10).

Is crime going up or down in Bethlehem Central?

Recorded offences in Bethlehem Central have risen 44.4% over the most recent three-month period compared with the previous three months. This is a three-month comparison, not a year-on-year one, and short windows move around a lot in small areas.

How does Bethlehem Central compare with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region?

Bethlehem Central ranks 134 of 157 suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Bethlehem Central only with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.

Where does the crime data for Bethlehem Central come from?

Figures for Bethlehem Central, Tauranga City come from New Zealand Police recorded victimisation data, published through police.govt.nz, and are grouped to Stats NZ Statistical Area 2 (SA2) boundaries. They count offences recorded by Police, so they reflect reporting and recording practice as well as underlying offending.

Looking for a plain-English safety summary?

👉 See how safe Bethlehem Central is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz