Watlington
Safety Score (12-month average)
66
–
Crime rate
14.7 per 1,000
Population 2,241
Total crimes (past 12 months)
33
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 50.0%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#253 / 331
Bottom 24%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026Watlington Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (63.6%), burglary (24.2%), and assault (9.1%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Watlington is 14.7256 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 253 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Nov 2025, Dec 2025, Jan 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in November 2025, December 2025, and January 2026.
Watlington crime statistics: common questions
Is Watlington safe?
Watlington recorded 33 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 14.7 per 1,000 residents across about 2,241 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 Watlington?
The crime rate in Watlington is 14.7 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 33 recorded offences across about 2,241 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 Watlington?
The most common offence category in Watlington is theft, with 21 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 64% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (8).
Is crime going up or down in Watlington?
Recorded offences in Watlington have fallen 50.0% 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 Watlington compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Watlington ranks 253 of 331 suburbs in Canterbury Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Watlington only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Watlington come from?
Figures for Watlington, Timaru District 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 Watlington is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz