Firearm theft in Australia 2018

Abstract

In 2018 there were 847 reported incidents of firearm theft in which 2,425 firearms were stolen. This represents a 15 percent increase in incidents and a 35 percent increase in stolen firearms since 2008–09. Most thefts targeted residential premises with an average of three firearms stolen in each incident. The largest proportion of thefts occurred in regional parts of Australia, indicating a shift from major cities as the primary site of theft incidents. The majority of stolen firearms were in firearm safes at the time of the theft.

Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
    • Methods
  • Incidents of theft and stolen firearms
    • Number of incidents
    • Number of stolen firearms
    • Single and multiple firearm thefts
    • Firearm type
    • Firearm category
    • Registration status
  • Characteristics of theft incidents
    • Location
    • Remoteness
    • Type of offence
    • Theft of other items
    • Method of entry and access
    • Firearm security
    • Recovery of firearms
  • Summary
  • References
  • Appendix