Observatory Crime Statistics
Observatory is split between 2 police areas. SAPS counts crime per police area, so the figures below are for the one you pick, not for Observatory alone.
Suburb-to-station mapping: verified against official SAPS station boundaries — the suburb spans more than one. How we map suburbs
Observatory spans 2 police precincts — which one covers you?
All data below updates based on your selection. Why does this suburb have two precincts?
How much crime was reported in Observatory?
The Woodstock SAPS precinct, which covers Observatory, recorded 3,541 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, about the same as Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
A raw count, not adjusted for population: larger police areas serve more people and record more crime.
Latest quarter (Apr–Jun 2026): 910 crimes, up 13.8% compared with Apr–Jun 2025 (800).
High volume for Western Cape: the second-highest fifth of its 152 precincts by reported crime, Apr–Jun 2026.
Nationally Very High: the highest fifth of the 1,165 precincts that reported crime, Apr–Jun 2026.
Largest categories
Whole-precinct figures, reported crime only, raw counts. Source: SAPS quarterly crime statistics (saps.gov.za), Apr 2025–Mar 2026.
What this data can't tell you
- Exactly where in the precinct crimes happened. Every suburb in the Woodstock police area (the one selected above) shares these figures. Other suburbs: Devils Peak, Salt River, Woodstock.
- Crime that was never reported. SAPS counts crimes reported to the police. Not all crime is reported, so actual incidence is higher. Reporting rates also vary by area and crime type, so there is no reliable way to correct for it. How we handle this →
- How crime compares per resident. These are raw counts with no population adjustment. Precincts serving more people naturally record more crimes. The trend over time, which compares this precinct against its own history, is the more reliable signal.
Reported crimes
3,541
Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · Full year
Compared with 2018/19
↓ 25.2%
fewer than in 2018/19, before the pandemic
Updated · SAPS Q1 2026-27 release
Crime by type
Change vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 by crime category. Murder is shown separately but is included in the violent crime total.
Murder
11
11 → 11 vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Violent crime
757
↓ 3.8% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Property crime
910
↑ 8.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Other (drug, commercial, theft)
1,874
+0.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Crime breakdown
Top reported offences in 2025-2026, with change vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
| Crime category | Reported count | Change vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 764 | -93 |
| Theft from vehicle | 549 | +45 |
| Drug-related crime | 434 | +25 |
| Commercial crime | 362 | +59 |
| Common robbery | 251 | 0 |
| Aggravated robbery | 222 | -32 |
| Vehicle theft | 170 | +58 |
| Common assault | 164 | +1 |
Crime over time
Reported crimes per SAPS financial year, by category
Crime trend by year
Dashed: Apr–Jun 2026 only (1 of 4 quarters published) — a partial year, not comparable with the full years before it.
Hollow points with dashed lines indicate years with fewer than 4 quarters of data — those totals may be lower because SAPS has not released every quarter.
Over the past decade, crime here has fallen.
The numbers behind that — recent years vs earlier years, averaged to see past a one-year spike
Over ~5 years
↓ 8.9%
avg 23/24–25/26 vs avg 18/19–20/21
Over ~10 years
↓ 33.2%
avg 23/24–25/26 vs avg 13/14–15/16
Year-by-year totals
| Year | Reported crimes |
|---|---|
| 2026/27 (Apr–Jun only) | 910 |
| 2025/26 | 3,541 |
| 2024/25 | 3,484 |
| 2023/24 | 3,753 |
| 2022/23 | 3,654 |
| 2021/22 | 3,108 |
| 2020/21 | 2,822 |
| 2019/20 | 4,280 |
| 2018/19 | 4,732 |
| 2017/18 | 4,909 |
| 2016/17 | 5,420 |
| 2015/16 | 5,601 |
| 2014/15 | 5,372 |
| 2013/14 | 5,163 |
Nearby areas
Neighbouring police precincts
Precincts sharing a boundary with Woodstock, listed alphabetically. Counts are for Apr–Jun 2026, changes vs Apr–Jun 2025.
Other suburbs served by Woodstock police station
4 suburbs in this precinct share the same SAPS crime data
SAPS reports at precinct level — all suburbs below have identical crime statistics to Observatory.
View full Woodstock precinct overview →Take Action
Report crime or service issues in your area
Woodstock SAPS
City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality
Report a fault:
Contact details last verified: 2026-09-27. Source: SAPS · municipalities.co.za
See Observatory's precincts on the crime map
View the precinct boundary in context, with a year-by-year timeline back to 2013/14 and surrounding precincts around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crime in Observatory
Check another area
Data Sources & Notes
- Crime data: SAPS quarterly crime statistics
- SAPS data reflects reported crime only. Crime reporting rates vary by area. How much crime goes unreported? →
- This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for safety or property decisions. Full disclaimer
- Full methodology →
Economic Context
Property affordability is shaped by SA's broader economic environment.
- SA Repo Rate History →— how interest rates affect bond repayments
- Cost of Living: 2010 vs Now →— how purchasing power has changed