By Lauren Ferrone
Published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Gone are the days of leaving your front door unlocked and window ajar. New statistics reveal home burglaries across South Australia are on the rise. Find out if your postcode is one of SA’s worst for break-ins.
The southern suburb of Morphett Vale has been exposed as a prime spot for home break-ins by the latest South Australian Police (SAPOL) crime statistics.
There were 131 serious criminal trespass offences recorded in Morphett Vale during the 2018–19 financial year, and 108 in SA’s second most burglarised town, Port Lincoln.
Another Eyre Peninsula hub, Whyalla, experienced its fair share of break-ins, with 2 suburbs appearing on the list – Whyalla Stuart and Whyalla Norrie.
Despite some regional areas being hotspots for crime, SAPOL’s statistics show metropolitan areas overall experienced more break-ins, compared with rural towns.
Top 10 postcodes for break-ins
| Ranking | Suburb | Number of break-ins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morphett Vale | 131 |
| 2 | Port Lincoln | 108 |
| 3 | Davoren Park | 101 |
| 4 | Parafield Gardens | 98 |
| 5 | Prospect | 98 |
| 6 | Adelaide | 97 |
| 7 | Whyalla Stuart | 94 |
| 8 | Elizabeth Downs | 89 |
| 9 | Kilburn | 88 |
| 10 | Whyalla Norrie | 88 |
Davoren Park, in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, had the 3rd highest number of break-ins at 101.
Parafield Gardens and Prospect were slightly lower, both with 98 offences, while metropolitan Adelaide followed with 97 break-ins.
According to RAA Insurance Claims Manager Hayley Cain, RAA dealt with more than 1200 theft-related home insurance claims in 2018–19.
“The alarming jump in home burglaries highlighted the need for residents to be vigilant,” she said.
Having your house broken into isn’t just a traumatising experience, it can be a major financial setback if you’re not insured.
Broken Hill, Parafield Gardens, Morphett Vale, Prospect and Adelaide were the top 5 suburbs for RAA burglary claims reported last year – most of which appeared on SAPOL’s list of the state’s worst postcodes for break-ins.
RAA recommends people double check their insurance policy to ensure it covers burglary and theft, and that they’re happy the sum insured is sufficient for them.
“If you’re after more reassurance, it’s important you contact your insurer to update or clarify what you’re covered for. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.”