Helensburgh

Dunedin CityOtago Region
Last updated:

Safety Score (12-month average)

88

Crime rate

5.2 per 1,000

Population 1,146

Total crimes (past 12 months)

6

Trend (last 3 months)

▼ 50.0%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#111 / 138

Bottom 20%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Updated August 2026

Helensburgh Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were theft (42.9%), assault (28.6%), and burglary (28.6%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in Helensburgh is 5.2356 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 111 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Nov 2025, Mar 2026, May 2026.

Crime activity peaked in November 2025, March 2026, and May 2026.

Helensburgh crime statistics: common questions

Is Helensburgh safe?

Helensburgh recorded 6 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents across about 1,146 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 Helensburgh?

The crime rate in Helensburgh is 5.2 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 6 recorded offences across about 1,146 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 Helensburgh?

The most common offence category in Helensburgh is assault, with 2 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 33% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (2).

Is crime going up or down in Helensburgh?

Recorded offences in Helensburgh 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 Helensburgh compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?

Helensburgh ranks 111 of 138 suburbs in Otago Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Helensburgh only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.

Where does the crime data for Helensburgh come from?

Figures for Helensburgh, Dunedin 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 Helensburgh is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz