Upper Riccarton
Safety Score (12-month average)
6
–
Crime rate
261.0 per 1,000
Population 1,521
Total crimes (past 12 months)
397
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 32.8%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#24 / 331
Top 7%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Upper Riccarton Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (82.1%), burglary (11.3%), and assault (5.8%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Upper Riccarton is 261.013 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 24 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Jul 2025, Aug 2025, Sep 2025.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in July, August, and September 2025.
Upper Riccarton crime statistics: common questions
Is Upper Riccarton safe?
Upper Riccarton recorded 397 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 261.0 per 1,000 residents across about 1,521 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 Upper Riccarton?
The crime rate in Upper Riccarton is 261.0 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 397 recorded offences across about 1,521 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 Upper Riccarton?
The most common offence category in Upper Riccarton is theft, with 326 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 82% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (45).
Is crime going up or down in Upper Riccarton?
Recorded offences in Upper Riccarton have risen 32.8% 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 Upper Riccarton compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Upper Riccarton ranks 24 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 Upper Riccarton only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Upper Riccarton come from?
Figures for Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 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 Upper Riccarton is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz