Mapped: Queensland’s most dangerous streets and suburbs

How safe is your neighbourhood? New data has revealed the streets and suburbs where police have been called for break-ins, assaults, drugs and car thefts. Every Queensland region listed.

Search our list of Qld’s most crime-hit suburbs.

A suburb in southeast Queensland has shaped up to be the state’s most dangerous place to live in 2023.

Logan Central, which is home to more than 6200, experienced a massive crime blowout this year.

The cosmopolitan suburb’s households endured an alarming 48.69 per cent rise in home break-ins from 717 to 1066 year on year to September 2023.

They also experienced a 29.19 per cent increase in car thefts and an alarming 22.87 per cent rise in assaults.

The suburb was in the top 10 lists for the most number of house break-ins, car thefts and assaults in the year to September.

Across the state, break ins were up a staggering 20 per cent, while car thefts were up 16 per cent and assaults 15 per cent.

Hendra in Brisbane, Kirwan in Townsville, Southport on the Gold Coast and Inala were other crime hotspots, according to Queensland Police Service data for the year to September.

Upper Mount Gravatt on Brisbane’s southside, Rockhampton, Stuart in Townsville and Caboolture in Moreton all made the top 10 lists for the most assaults, car thefts and house break ins over the year.

In Logan Central, Wilbur St, near Wembley Rd had the suburb’s highest crime rate with 144 offences recorded by police including three weapons offences and two arsons.

Logan Central resident Lionel Schmidt said it was a crime war zone after his son’s apartment complex was stormed by a group of three who were allegedly armed last week.

The Logan Central apartment block where a water tank was used to gain access. Picture: Contributed

The trio, allegedly with knuckle dusters, knives and a hammer, scaled a back fence and used a water tank to gain access to the first-floor units.

Once inside, they allegedly threatened a resident with a knife before making off with a television, a PlayStation and other electronic equipment.

Mr Schmidt said Logan Central had a reputation for being “crime central” and attracting those from a low-socio economic background.

“We thought that this complex would be safe because it is fully fenced and has a body corporate but then this happened,” he said.

“Every day, we hear of another crime, assault, robbery or a car being stolen from around here — but this was not kids.”

Beenleigh, Crestmead and Springwood were other Logan suburbs to record crime rates higher than state averages.

Southeast locksmith Ben Cann said he had noticed an increase in crime in lower socio-economic suburbs. Picture: Locksmiths Near You

Car thefts skyrocketed by 31 per cent in Beenleigh, where police were forced to issue a public appeal after a car was stolen from a car wash at knifepoint in October.

Assaults in Beenleigh were also on the rise, with 1004 recorded in the year, up 26 per cent.

The suburb’s hotspot, according to police data, was on City Rd, near the magistrates court and the watch house, where 484 offences were recorded in the year to October.

Cairns households endured 2448 break ins between September 2022 and September this year, a startling figure but one that represented a 15 per cent drop over the year.

In the Moreton region, Caboolture faced a considerable rise in criminal activity.

Unlawful entries to residential properties surged 29.1 per cent, and assaults increased by 23.5 per cent.

In May, police said a girl, 17, was walking on a path between Tucker and Goshawk streets, when she was grabbed by a man who she did not know.

The girl was able to run away and alert police but extensive searches and inquiries failed to locate the offender.

There were 303 car thefts in Caboolture over the year, down from 317 the year before, representing a 4.9 per cent drop.

Lock it or lose it: Benn Cann said every house should have deadlocks.

Southeast locksmith Ben Cann, who owns Locksmiths Near You, said house break-ins were at epidemic levels in the lower socio-economic suburbs such as Logan Central, Redbank Plains, Beenleigh, Woodridge, Inala, Goodna and some of the poorer inner-city suburbs.

“So far this year I’ve attended just under 300 break ins, which is up from around 250 last year,” he said.

“Offenders are getting younger and more adventurous and I have been called to a few houses where items have been stolen from a bedside table while the occupants were asleep.

“Police are so busy they can’t attend most of the break ins and often I am the first on the scene.

“People need to lock up their houses and their cars because I fear it will get worse now that interest rates have gone up again.”

NORTH BRISBANE

Fortitude Valley’s night-life hub has become a battleground for law enforcement with unlawful entries up 19.1 per cent and assaults surging 4.9 per cent. Car thefts rose 12.5 per cent.

Most dangerous streets: Wickham and Brunswick streets, where there were 361 assaults, 452 drugs offences, 52 weapons incidents, 11 reported robberies and two arsons.

SOUTH BRISBANE

Inala stands out as a suburb facing significant challenges with an alarming 51.4 per cent increase in unlawful entries and a 36 per cent surge in assaults over the year. Car thefts, however, have shown a staggering 44.2 per cent increase.

Most dangerous street: Inala Ave near Kittyhawk Ave was the suburb’s crime hotspot with 273 offences recorded in those streets over the past year including two arsons, 15 assaults, 14 unlawful entries, six robberies, and three car thefts.

MORETON

Unlawful entries surged in Caboolture by 29.1 per cent, assaults by 23.5 per cent while car thefts, however, went down 4.9 per cent.

Most dangerous streets: Walter, Mortimer and Station streets, near the train station, where there were 12 assaults, five car thefts and one robbery.

QPS home break-in data for the months October 22 to September 23.

IPSWICH

In the Ipswich region, Goodna emerged as a suburb facing intricate challenges. Unlawful entries surged 15 per cent and assaults were up 51 per cent. Car thefts, however, went down by 10.2 per cent.

Most dangerous street: Goleby Ave and Ellenborough St, where there were 33 weapons offences, 15 assaults and 1 car theft.

SUNSHINE COAST

Amid the Sunshine Coast’s stunning beaches and hinterland, Maroochydore paints a contrasting picture. There was a 15.4 per cent drop in unlawful entries, but assaults soared 10.1 per cent and there was a 16.4 per cent rise in car thefts.

Most dangerous street: Horton Pde, near Sunshine Plaza where there were 11 assaults and seven weapons offences.

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Unlawful entries surged 43.6 per cent in North Rockhampton with the number of assaults recorded by police up 15.8 per cent. Car thefts, however, dropped off by 7.6 per cent. providing a glimmer of hope in the district’s fight against crime. Rockhampton, with its historical charm, is wrestling with the complexities of urban safety.

Most dangerous street: Moores Creek Rd and Yaamba Rd where there were seven break-ins, three robberies and two stolen cars.

QPS car theft data for the months October 22 to September 23.

FAR NORTH

Cairns, surrounded by the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, grapples with an intricate balance between its thriving tourism industry and the safety of its residents. It had a 15.3 per cent drop in unlawful entries but a notable 21.8 per cent increase in assaults. Car thefts fell 24.3 per cent.

Most dangerous street: Abbott and Aplin streets, where there were eight assaults, 10 weapons offences, 1 car theft and five break-ins.

WIDE BAY

Bundaberg stands out after experiencing a significant rise in criminal activities. Unlawful entries surged 71.54 per cent, and assaults increased 5.6 per cent. Car thefts also experienced a 57.4 per cent increase.

Most dangerous street: Maryborough and Barolin streets where there were four assaults, two drug offences, two break-ins and one weapons offence.

QPS data from October 22 to September 23.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, you should report it to police.Support and counselling is available from the following agencies:

■ DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811

■ DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636

■ 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732

More information is also available from the Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence portal.