2025 Top 10 Burglary Hotspots in Bay of Plenty
Are Bay of Plenty Burglary Patterns Changing?
As we move further into 2026, we’ve reviewed the latest burglary data to see how Bay of Plenty has tracked over the past year and what that may mean for property security in the months ahead.
In earlier articles, we looked at national and regional crime trends across New Zealand. This time, we’re narrowing the focus to Bay of Plenty, looking at recent burglary activity, longer-term patterns, and the areas recording the highest number of incidents.
Our goal is simple: to understand whether burglary patterns are shifting, highlight areas with higher burglary activity, and help property owners think about practical ways to improve security.
Before we begin, we want to emphasise the following point.
We understand that statistics can seem distant when you’ve been directly impacted by crime. No number can truly encapsulate the fear, loss, and disruption experienced by victims. Our aim is not to diminish these experiences, but to provide a clearer picture of broader trends. Every incident matters, and improving everyday security remains important across New Zealand.
Data Sources: New Zealand Police Data Source - Victimisations (police stations) and Victimisation Time and Place.
Index
📊 Monthly Burglary Trends (2025–2026)
📉 Long-Term Bay of Plenty Burglary Trends (2015–2025)
📍 Top Burglary Locations (2025–2026)
🛡️ What This Means for Property Security
🗺️ Full Canterbury Area Breakdown
1. Monthly Burglary Trends (Jan 2025 – Jan 2026)
The table below shows burglary occurrences in the Bay of Plenty region over the past 13 months.
Observations
Burglary levels across Bay of Plenty remained relatively steady throughout the year, with normal month-to-month variation rather than any extreme spikes.
There are some mild seasonal patterns, with higher activity around January, April, and late in the year, while June to August was comparatively lower. Overall, the trend appears stable rather than sharply increasing or decreasing.
2. Long-Term Bay of Plenty Burglary Trends (2015–2025)
Looking at a longer timeframe helps put recent activity into context.
Key takeaways
Burglary totals peaked around 2016 and remained relatively elevated across 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Across the full period, burglary in Bay of Plenty has remained persistent rather than declining sharply.
Residential properties account for a large portion of incidents, averaging around 64–73% across the 2015–2025 period.
This highlights a key point:
Most burglaries are still happening at homes.
While the overall trend is not worsening dramatically, burglary remains a persistent issue across Bay of Plenty.
3. Top Burglary Locations (Jan 2025 – Jan 2026)
The following areas recorded the highest number of burglaries during the latest 12-month period.
Observations
Many of the highest-occurrence areas are located within major urban centres, busy residential zones, or mixed-use areas. These places often combine higher population density, stronger transport access, and a larger concentration of potential targets.
Bay of Plenty’s top locations show a mix of:
-
Tauranga urban areas
-
Rotorua urban areas
-
established regional communities such as Kawerau and Katikati
Burglary is not limited to one city centre. Instead, it is spread across several active population hubs across the region.
High-risk areas exist, but many other locations still record regular burglary activity.
On-brand insight:
Even within the top areas, burglary is driven by opportunity — making visible, practical security one of the simplest ways to reduce risk.
4. What This Means for Property Security
The latest data suggests that burglary levels in Bay of Plenty are not rapidly increasing, which is encouraging.
However, burglary remains present, consistent, and largely residential.
This means:
- There is no need for panic
- But practical prevention still matters
At DIY Xpanda, we focus on practical security, not hype.
Our products are designed to act as:
- a visible deterrent
- a first line of defence
- a way to strengthen vulnerable entry points
For homes, rentals, and small businesses, simple upgrades such as:
can help discourage opportunistic intruders and delay forced entry.
Good security is about layering:
- physical barriers
- alarms
- cameras
Each layer increases the effort required to break in.
DIY Xpanda products are:
- pre-made and ready to ship
- simple to install with basic tools
- designed for common NZ homes and properties
This allows property owners to act quickly — without the cost and delay of custom systems.
For more advanced needs, Xpanda Security can assist with custom-built solutions and professional installation.
5. Full Bay of Plenty Area Breakdown
This broader view shows that burglary is not isolated to one area.
While some locations record higher numbers, burglary activity is spread across the region — reinforcing the importance of practical, everyday security improvements.
Thank you for reading, and stay safe!
|
Area |
Occurrence |
|---|---|
|
Allandale-Mokorua |
103 |
|
Aongatete |
50 |
|
Arataki |
69 |
|
Athenree |
10 |
|
Bellevue |
18 |
|
Bethlehem East |
11 |
|
Bethlehem |
113 |
|
Brookfield |
34 |
|
Cape Runaway |
32 |
|
Coastlands |
20 |
|
Doncaster |
26 |
|
Edgecumbe |
18 |
|
Fairy Springs |
83 |
|
Fenton |
38 |
|
Fordlands |
51 |
|
Gate Pa |
63 |
|
Glenholme East |
62 |
|
Glenholme West |
94 |
|
Gravatt |
17 |
|
Greerton |
80 |
|
Hairini |
44 |
|
Hamurana |
24 |
|
Hillcrest |
80 |
|
Inlet-Tauranga Harbour |
1 |
|
Island View-Pios Beach |
8 |
|
Judea |
36 |
|
Kaimai |
51 |
|
Kaingaroa Forest |
26 |
|
Kairua |
4 |
|
Kaitemako |
11 |
|
Katikati Community |
118 |
|
Kawaha Point |
35 |
|
Kawerau |
139 |
|
Koutu |
43 |
|
Kuirau |
127 |
|
Lynmore |
27 |
|
Maketu Community |
12 |
|
Mamaku |
13 |
|
Mangakakahi |
128 |
|
Maraetotara |
2 |
|
Matahina-Minginui |
26 |
|
Matakana Island |
2 |
|
Matapihi |
7 |
|
Matata |
8 |
|
Matua |
14 |
|
Maungatapu |
24 |
|
Minden |
45 |
|
Mt Maunganui North |
45 |
|
Murupara |
38 |
|
Ngapuna |
31 |
|
Ngongotaha North |
85 |
|
Ngongotaha South |
19 |
|
Ohauiti-Ngapeke |
7 |
|
Ohinemutu |
8 |
|
Ohope |
25 |
|
Omanu |
106 |
|
Omokoroa |
27 |
|
Oponae |
3 |
|
Opotiki |
96 |
|
Orini |
14 |
|
Otakiri |
71 |
|
Otumoetai North |
28 |
|
Otumoetai South |
36 |
|
Owhata East |
29 |
|
Owhata South |
11 |
|
Owhata West |
87 |
|
Pacific View |
15 |
|
Paengaroa |
4 |
|
Palm Beach |
48 |
|
Palm Springs |
97 |
|
Papamoa Beach East |
23 |
|
Poets Corner |
2 |
|
Poike |
5 |
|
Pomare |
31 |
|
Pongakawa |
46 |
|
Poroporo |
14 |
|
Pukehangi North |
32 |
|
Pukehangi South |
61 |
|
Pyes Pa |
50 |
|
Rangitaiki |
6 |
|
Rangiuru |
45 |
|
Rotoma |
57 |
|
Selwyn Heights |
18 |
|
Springfield |
45 |
|
Sulphur Point |
12 |
|
Sunnybrook |
18 |
|
Tahawai |
29 |
|
Taneatua |
10 |
|
Tarawera |
21 |
|
Tauranga Central |
62 |
|
Tauranga Hospital |
44 |
|
Tauranga South |
104 |
|
Te Kaha |
6 |
|
Te Maunga |
49 |
|
Te Puke East |
78 |
|
Te Puke West |
50 |
|
Te Puna |
29 |
|
Te Reti |
10 |
|
Te Teko |
4 |
|
Tikitere |
71 |
|
Trident |
63 |
|
Upper Papamoa |
32 |
|
Urewera |
36 |
|
Utuhina |
35 |
|
Victoria |
194 |
|
Waihi Beach |
42 |
|
Waimana |
9 |
|
Waiotahi |
64 |
|
Waiwhero |
17 |
|
Welcome Bay East |
26 |
|
Welcome Bay West |
21 |
|
Western Heights |
95 |
|
Whaka |
8 |
|
Whakatane North |
87 |
|
Whakatane West |
49 |
|
Yatton Park |
41 |
