Chatswood crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
3,330 recorded in this period, compared with 3,148 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Chatswood
Chatswood is a major commercial and residential suburb located on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, situated approximately 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district. Operating within the local government area of the City of Willoughby (Postcode 2067), the locality functions as a prominent regional hub. Demographically, Chatswood is characterised by a high-density urban population with a significant multicultural and Asian-Australian demographic, featuring a large proportion of residents born overseas, notably from China, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
The suburb is defined by a dual-zone layout comprising a bustling commercial core alongside extensive leafy residential streets featuring a mix of Federation-era homes, medium-density apartments, and high-rise residential towers. Chatswood is a major retail and transport nexus, anchored by large shopping complexes such as Westfield Chatswood and Chatswood Chase, as well as the prominent Concourse civic, arts, and entertainment centre. Transport infrastructure includes the Chatswood railway station and interchange, providing direct heavy rail and metro services to the Sydney CBD and the North West.
Historically, the area was originally inhabited by the Guringai people before European settlement began in the early 19th century. The suburb's name is a portmanteau combining 'Chattenden', the maiden name of Charlotte Harnett (wife of pioneer and local alderman Richard Harnett), and 'wood', reflecting the native bushland that once dominated the area. Growth accelerated following the opening of the North Shore railway line in 1890 and the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932, which gradually transformed Chatswood from a semi-rural outpost into a thriving suburban centre.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Transport regulatory offences | 1,214 | 1,168 |
| Steal from retail store | 520 | 431 |
| Breach bail conditions | 318 | 294 |
| Fraud | 194 | 192 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 143 | 115 |
| Other theft | 111 | 135 |
| Malicious damage to property | 106 | 106 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 68 | 64 |
| Possession and/or use of cannabis | 62 | 52 |
| Receiving or handling stolen goods | 57 | 48 |
| Steal from dwelling | 47 | 48 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 47 | 42 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 43 | 50 |
| Trespass | 39 | 53 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 36 | 40 |
| Break and enter non-dwelling | 33 | 34 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 32 | 50 |
| Other offences | 32 | 25 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 25,553 residents. This is not a current population estimate.
Sources and interpretation
These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.