Each quarter, ACT Policing issues crime statistics illustrating the offences reported or becoming known in suburbs across Canberra.

The selected offences highlighted in the statistics include: assault, sexual offences, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, other theft (such as shoplifting and fraud) and property damage. It is important to note that these numbers may fluctuate as new complainants come forward, more Traffic Infringement Notices are downloaded into the system, or when complaints are withdrawn.

It should also be noted that the individual geographical areas will not combine to the ACT totals due to the exclusion of rural sectors and other regions.

It is important for the community to understand there may be a straight-forward explanation for a spike in offences in their neighbourhood.

For example, sexual offences in Narrabundah increased from two in the January to March last year, to 32 in the first quarter of 2012. These 32 sexual offences relate to one historical case which was reported to police in January 2012, and which has since been finalised.

The smaller the number of reported offences involved, the greater the chance for a dramatic percentage increase.