Theft offences increase across North West, new data shows

The latest crime statistics, published by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), have shown that thefts have continued to rise across parts of the North West.

Gunnedah Shire experienced the largest increase, almost 46 per cent, in the 2025–26 financial year, with Narrabri Shire experiencing an increase of almost 25 per cent in the same period.

Moree Plains, while experiencing a slight decrease, still experienced the largest volume of incidents among the three shires.

Moree Plains recorded 909 incidents, Gunnedah 676 and Narrabri 382.

A breakdown of theft offences shows that both Gunnedah and Narrabri experienced increases in break-and-enter dwelling and non-dwelling incidents and motor vehicle thefts.

Thefts from retail premises also increased.

While Narrabri had experienced a slight increase in the various categories, in almost all instances of the various forms of theft the shire was still well below Moree Plains and Gunnedah.

The statistics showed that Gunnedah topped the three areas for stolen vehicles, overtaking Moree Plains.

Assaults slightly increased in Narrabri and Moree Plains but declined in Gunnedah.

This included domestic assault offences with 130 incidents reported in Narrabri, 312 in Moree Plains and 104 in Gunnedah.

Non-domestic assault crimes also increased in Narrabri and Moree Plains.

The number of sexual offences was mostly on par with the previous financial year as was malicious damage to property.

Drug offences experienced an increase in Gunnedah and Moree Plains, but remained stable in Narrabri.

Intimidation, stalking and harassment offences also increased across the three years.

Across regional NSW, theft offences slightly increased overall while theft offences were stable.

Drug offences also increased slighty.

When releasing the results, BOCSAR noted that most major offence categories were unchanged, with retail theft the only one of the 13 major crime categories to record a significant increase, up 10.4 per cent.

Firearm-related crime also showed no significant increase over the past two years, while several firearm offence categories declined over the past decade.

At the same time, NSW Police initiated 11.6 per cent more adult court proceedings, resulting in more than 19,000 additional defendants set to appear before the courts. Youth court actions were stable.

“Although crime rates were largely unchanged, the number of adults being brought before the courts increased substantially,” said BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald.

“This represents a marked acceleration in charges compared with the longer-term trend.

“Adult court proceedings rose by 11.6 per cent in just two years, compared with average annual growth of 2.7 per cent over the past decade.

“The increase was widespread, with adult court proceedings rising across every metropolitan and regional area of NSW.”

Driving offences are the most common offences detected by NSW Police and were the biggest contributor to the increase in adult court proceedings (accounting for around 40 per cent of the overall increase).

Across the last two years, adults charged with a driving offence increased by 15.1 per cent, reaching 58,725 in 2025–26.

“The increase was due to a sharp rise in court actions for driving while disqualified or suspended from late 2025, leading to a 32.1 per cent increase in legal actions for this offence over the two years to June 2026,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“The rise does not appear to be due to more suspended or disqualified drivers in NSW, but rather increased police enforcement and detection.”

Court actions for domestic violence offences rose by 14.2 per cent in the last two years, up to 49,435 in 2025–26.

This translated to 6,128 additional defendants proceeding to court and accounted for a third of the overall growth in adult court proceedings.

Increased adult court proceedings for domestic violence-related intimidation (up 19.4 per cent), domestic violence assault (up 12.8 per cent) and breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders (up 12.5 per cent) were the drivers of this growth.

“The increase in domestic violence charges is due to both a rise in recorded incidents of intimidation and ADVO breaches, plus a greater likelihood that DV assault suspects will face court action when those incidents are reported,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

Adults charged with drug possession increased by 15.8 per cent, or 1,486, over the two years to June 2026, and accounted for almost 10 per cent of the overall growth in adult court proceedings.

The largest increases were recorded for amphetamines (up 22.5 per cent), cannabis (up 13.9 per cent), narcotics (up 27.6 per cent) and cocaine (up 18.4 per cent).

“Many of the offence categories behind the increase in adult court proceedings are heavily influenced by police enforcement activity,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“The rise in charges for driving offences, drug possession and domestic violence matters suggests police are detecting and acting on more incidents, rather than responding to a broad increase in recorded crime.”