Dobson

Grey District•West Coast Region
Police data to:

Safety Score (12-month average)

98

–

Crime rate

11.0 per 1,000

Population 906

Total crimes (past 12 months)

10

Trend (last 3 months)

▲ 300.0%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#27 / 33

Bottom 18%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Police data to August 2026

Dobson Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were theft (40.0%), assault (30.0%), and burglary (30.0%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in Dobson is 11.0375 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 27 within West Coast Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Oct 2025, Jun 2026, Aug 2026.

Explore crime in nearby locations

Crime activity peaked in October 2025, June 2026, and August 2026.

Dobson crime statistics: common questions

Is Dobson safe?

Dobson recorded 10 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 11.0 per 1,000 residents across about 906 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 Dobson?

The crime rate in Dobson is 11.0 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 10 recorded offences across about 906 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 Dobson?

The most common offence category in Dobson is theft, with 4 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 40% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is assault (3).

Is crime going up or down in Dobson?

Recorded offences in Dobson have risen 300.0% 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 Dobson compare with other suburbs in West Coast Region?

Dobson ranks 27 of 33 suburbs in West Coast Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Dobson only with other suburbs in West Coast Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.

Where does the crime data for Dobson come from?

Figures for Dobson, Grey 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 Dobson is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz