West Otago

Clutha DistrictOtago Region
Last updated:

Safety Score (12-month average)

80

Crime rate

24.3 per 1,000

Population 2,220

Total crimes (past 12 months)

54

Trend (last 3 months)

▼ 37.5%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#36 / 138

Top 26%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Updated August 2026

West Otago Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Harm or endanger persons
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were burglary (61.1%), theft (22.2%), and assault (14.8%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in West Otago is 24.3243 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 36 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Feb 2026, Mar 2026, Jun 2026.

Explore crime in nearby locations

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

West Otago crime statistics: common questions

Is West Otago safe?

West Otago recorded 54 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 24.3 per 1,000 residents across about 2,220 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 West Otago?

The crime rate in West Otago is 24.3 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 54 recorded offences across about 2,220 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 West Otago?

The most common offence category in West Otago is burglary, with 33 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 61% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (12).

Is crime going up or down in West Otago?

Recorded offences in West Otago have fallen 37.5% 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 West Otago compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?

West Otago ranks 36 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 West Otago only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.

Where does the crime data for West Otago come from?

Figures for West Otago, Clutha 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 West Otago is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz