Each year the Australian Bureau of Statistics survey a sample of the New South Wales population to determine the level of crime in the community. Crime victim surveys are useful in establishing the profile of groups likely to be victims of crime as well as giving an indication of the amount of crime occurring which is not reported to the police. The 2008 survey found that:

• In 2008, 7.0% of New South Wales households experienced some form of household crime, this being either an actual or attempted break and enter or motor vehicle theft. This is an increase from 2007, where 6.5% of households experienced household crime.
• Break and enter affected 3.8% of New South Wales households in 2008. Over the same period, 0.7% of New South Wales households experienced a motor vehicle theft.
• In 2008, there was no significant difference between household victimisation rates for different household types.
• Households in Sydney have a similar victimisation rate than households outside Sydney (7.2% and 6.8% respectively).
• In 2008, 4.2% of persons aged over 15 years in New South Wales were victims of a personal crime (includes assault, robbery and sexual assault). Though this is not a significant change from the previous two years.
• Persons in Sydney have a similar victimisation rate for personal crime as those outside Sydney (4.0% and 4.6% respectively). However this is a statistically significant decrease for Sydney from 4.9% in 2007.

Victimisation rate for personal crime in 2008, by age and gender
	Victimisation Rate
Age	Males	Females	Total
15-24	8.5	4.5	6.6
25-34	6.3	4.9*	5.6
35-44	6.1	5.1	5.6
45-54	4.3	2.8*	3.5
55-64	2.6	2.4*	2.5*
65 years or over	1.5*	0.7**	1.0*
Total	5.0	3.4	4.2

From the above figure it can be seen that:

• Males are more likely to be victims of personal crime than are females. In 2008 in New South Wales 5.0% of males experienced a personal crime compared with only 3.4% of females.
• Elderly people are the group least likely to be victims of a crime against the person. Around 1.0% of the New South Wales population aged 65 years or over was the victim of a personal crime in 2008.
• Young males have the highest rate of personal crime victimisation. Of men aged between 15 and 24, 8.5% experienced a crime against the person in 2008.