Shellharbour crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
212 recorded in this period, compared with 263 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Shellharbour
Shellharbour (postcode 2529) is a coastal city in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, located approximately 100 kilometres south of Sydney. It serves as the primary seat of the City of Shellharbour Local Government Area, covering a landscape that transitions from coastal beaches and the Bass Point headland to the rural foothills of the Illawarra Escarpment. The area comprises established residential suburbs, urban developments, and designated nature reserves.
The locality offers a range of amenities, anchored by the Stockland Shellharbour shopping precinct and the urban project at Shell Cove, which features the Shellharbour Marina. Residents have access to public infrastructure, including recreational parks, coastal walking trails, and aquatic facilities. Historically, the area was inhabited by the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation before European settlement in the early 19th century. Originally a rural district focused on cedar logging and dairy farming, the region transitioned during the 20th and 21st centuries into a residential and commercial hub, while retaining historical sites such as the late-19th-century village precinct near the harbour.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 32 | 34 |
| Malicious damage to property | 28 | 20 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 19 | 19 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 16 | 16 |
| Other theft | 11 | 16 |
| Breach Apprehended Violence Order | 10 | 6 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 10 | 26 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 8 | 12 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 8 | 8 |
| Sexual assault | 7 | 10 |
| Breach bail conditions | 6 | 8 |
| Fraud | 6 | 14 |
| Sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences | 6 | 4 |
| Liquor offences | 5 | 5 |
| Other offences | 5 | 5 |
| Steal from retail store | 4 | 3 |
| Other drug offences | 3 | 2 |
| Pornography offences | 3 | 0 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 3,520 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.