Australia: Travelers should remain vigilant in popular tourist areas due to pickpocketing and bag snatching

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Violent crime in Australia is low. However, petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs in larger cities. Vehicle break-ins are common. All travellers should exercise caution in the more popular tourist areas where thieves target foreigners (e.g., St. Kilda in Melbourne; Kings Cross, downtown George Street, Darling Harbour, Bondi Beach and the Rocks areas in Sydney; Cairns and the Gold Coast in Queensland). Hitchhiking should be avoided at all times, and women should not travel alone after dark. Read article