Kidnapping crimes rise across Australia

The number of abductions in Australia are on the rise — now we can reveal how victims were kidnapped and where the highest number of cases occurred.

Kidnappers used knives, guns and other implements to abduct 453 victims in a string of crimes committed around the country last year.

Despite lockdowns and Covid restrictions the number of abductions jumped by 51 new victims up from 402 in 2020.

And one state stood out as the kidnap capital of Australia, according to crime data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released on Thursday.

Out of the 453 kidnappings and abductions, the highest number, 210, were in New South Wales.

Victoria recorded the next highest number with 146 people abducted or kidnapped, while Queensland had 26 and South Australia had just 41 recorded cases each according to the ABS.

Tasmania recorded three kidnappings while the Northern Territory was the only state or territory to record none.

Cleo Smith’s mother Ellie Smith and her partner Jake Gliddon spoke about her disappearance, which was the highest profile case of kidnapping last year. Picture: Supplied by ABC News/James Carmody

The Recorded Crime – Victims 2021 report shows across the country there were more women than men who were victims of kidnapping or abductions.

In NSW, Vic, Queensland and SA there were more women than men who were the victims of kidnapping and most of the women were in the 18 to 34 year old age bracket.

Out of the 453, there were 114 who were under 18 years old and 47 who were aged under nine years old.

In NSW, Vic, and SA most kidnappers were known to their victims either as family or friends and acquaintances.

But in Queensland most kidnappings were carried out by strangers to the victims.

Across Australia the most kidnappings took place in a residential location and more knives were used than guns but in three quarters of the cases there was no weapon used at all, according to the ABS report.

The crime stats show most people, 262, were abducted from a residential settings.

There were also 109 kidnappings off the street or a community location and 66 were listed as another location.

Police clear up rates show that 30 days after the kidnap crimes, almost half of the cases had been finalised with the offender charged.

There were 252 investigations finalised and offenders charged, and 201 were still being investigated.

Cleo Smith was abducted last year. She is pictured here with parents Ellie Smith and step-father Jake Gliddon. Picture: Colin Murty

Most kidnap victims were aged between 18 and 34. More than half were women – 242.

The rate of kidnaps has fallen in the past 10 years in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

But it has increased in Victoria and Tasmania.

The highest profile kidnapping last year was of Cleo Smith. The four-year-old was abducted from the family tent while camping at Quobba Blowholes, 75km north of Carnarvon on the Western Australian coast, on October 16.

Cleo was missing for 18 days until she was rescued by police from a locked room in a house in the West Australian town of Carnarvon.

Terence Darrell Kelly, is pictured here being taken to prison in Perth for alleged kidnapping of Cleo Smith. Picture: Colin Murty

Her kidnapper Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, has pleaded guilty to her abduction.

Another high profile alleged kidnapping which took place last year was that of former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill.

He was allegedly abducted at gunpoint from Cremorne on Sydney’s Lower North Shore and police claim he was badly assaulted during the kidnapping.

Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill was allegedly abducted at gunpoint from Cremorne. Picture: John Grainger

There have also been a spate of kidnappings suspected to have been carried out by criminal groups for money.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Holton has alleged the motive for these kidnappings was money.

Det Inspector Holton has said the three victims all suffered significant injuries and alleges the kidnappings were organised.

“They’re organised events, they take planning and preparations to conduct kidnappings like this and they’re violent,” Holton said.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munroe said the rise in crimes including blackmail and extortion may be due to increased cybercrime and cyber stalking.

“People are getting random threats to expose them. Extortion is a function of the times. People are suffering out there and desperate times call for desperate measures for some people…,” said Dr Watson-Munroe.

“I think society is unravelling and there is an anarchistic attitude from some people. Some of the drivers (of crime) we are seeing are from desperate people. “

Originally published as Kidnapping crimes rise across Australia