3Paterson
Paterson, South Africa: crime rate and Safety score
Safety 3 out of 10 Above average crime
3/10 in South Africa · 1/10 in the world
Compared with 1129 places in the same country (10 = lowest crime).
Weighted crime: 22,984 per 100,000 people (12 months to June 2026)
Residents: about 7,788, a WorldPop 2025 modelled estimate summed within the police precinct, not a census count.
Crime by type, as recorded by SAPS (12 months to June 2026)
| Type | Count | Per 100,000 a year | All places this source covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | |||
| Murder | 4 | 51.4 | 34.6 |
| Sexual offences | |||
| Rape | 7 | 89.9 | 61.8 |
| Sexual assault | 1 | 12.8 | 11.6 |
| Attempted sexual offences | 1 | 12.8 | 4 |
| Other contact sexual offences | 0 | 0 | 1.2 |
| Violence | |||
| Attempted murder | 2 | 25.7 | 44.5 |
| Assault with intent to cause serious harm | 32 | 410.9 | 265.1 |
| Common assault | 38 | 487.9 | 291.2 |
| Kidnapping | 1 | 12.8 | 28.7 |
| Abduction of a minor | 0 | 0 | 0.2 |
| Robbery | |||
| Armed or aggravated robbery | 3 | 38.5 | 178.3 |
| Includes carjacking, house and business robbery and cash-in-transit heists. | |||
| Common robbery | 2 | 25.7 | 67.4 |
| Theft and burglary | |||
| Home burglary | 42 | 539.3 | 193.2 |
| Burglary of other premises | 37 | 475.1 | 66.4 |
| Livestock theft | 12 | 154.1 | 33.5 |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 12.8 | 59.8 |
| Vehicle theft | 2 | 25.7 | 45.2 |
| Theft from vehicles | 15 | 192.6 | 112.4 |
| Other theft | 66 | 847.5 | 354.3 |
| Drugs | |||
| Drug offences | 16 | 205.4 | 357.5 |
| Found through police action, so it rises with policing. | |||
| Damage and public order | |||
| Public violence | 0 | 0 | 1.6 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 4.1 |
| Malicious damage to property | 32 | 410.9 | 160.3 |
| Other | |||
| Culpable homicide | 7 | 89.9 | 15.2 |
| Unlawful killing without intent, mostly on the roads. | |||
| Driving under the influence | 0 | 0 | 133.3 |
| Found through police action, so it rises with policing. | |||
| Illegal firearms and ammunition | 3 | 38.5 | 24.2 |
| Sexual offences found by police action | 0 | 0 | 20.3 |
| Mainly sex work offences, not attacks on a person. | |||
| Child neglect and ill-treatment | 0 | 0 | 3.6 |
| Crimen injuria (serious insult) | 3 | 38.5 | 40.7 |
| Fraud and commercial crime | 13 | 166.9 | 228.2 |
Source: SAPS, updated 29 October 2026.
Recorded crime by type (12 months to June 2026)
| Homicide | 4 |
|---|---|
| Sexual offences | 9 |
| Violence | 73 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Theft and burglary | 175 |
| Drugs | 16 |
| Damage and public order | 32 |
| Other | 26 |
Questions about crime in Paterson
- Is Paterson safe?
- Paterson: Safety 3 out of 10 (Above average crime). Compared with 1129 places in the same country (10 = lowest crime).
- What is the crime rate in Paterson?
- Paterson: Weighted crime: 22,984 per 100,000 people (12 months to June 2026).
- How many murders are there in Paterson?
- Recorded homicides in Paterson (12 months to June 2026): 4.
