The number of incidents in which counterfeit cash has been used in financial transactions has increased significantly in South Australia, the latest crime statistics have revealed.
The April rolling year crime statistics reveal the offence of obtaining a benefit by deception, which includes counterfeit currency offences, increased by 11 per cent – or 406 incidents – from 3,543 to 3,949 offences in the period.
The statistics also reveal the number of police officers being assaulted while on duty continues to rise at an alarming rate, but residential break-ins and robberies have continued to decline as a result of proactive investigations targeting recidivist offenders.
Police intelligence reveals in April 2026 there were 58 counterfeit currency offences recorded, compared with just seven offences in April 2025. Counterfeit currency offences include uttering or passing counterfeit money, possessing counterfeit money and manufacturing counterfeit money.
Of those 58 offences, 39 occurred in the metropolitan area and the remainder in country regions. Of the 19 offences that occurred in country regions, 14 were recorded in the Yorke Peninsula/Mid-North region.
The majority of offending occurred in retail premises – 56 of the 58 offences. One offence occurred during a transaction initiated on Facebook Marketplace. In that incident the victim met with a prospective buyer who paid cash to purchase a vehicle. The victim was unaware the $100 notes were counterfeit until they attempted to deposit them at a bank.
The rolling year figures also reveal that robbery, blackmail and extortion offences have continued to decrease with a 13 per cent decline recorded – from 746 to 651 offences – or 95 incidents. This is the second successive fall of 13 per cent.
Within that category robbery offences decreased by 10 per cent - from 499 to 449 offences – or 50 incidents. This followed an 11 per cent decline in the previous period.
Residential break-ins have also continued to decline with a two per cent decrease reported in the period – from 5,725 to 5,625 offences – or 100 fewer offences. Non-residential break-ins also dropped by two per cent – from 3,446 to 3,382 offences – or 64 fewer incidents.
Theft overall decreased by four per cent – from 51,470 to 49,489 offences – or 1,981 fewer incidents. Within that category motor vehicle theft and related offences increased by one per cent – or 77 incidents.
Theft from retail premises – which incudes shop theft and fuel drive-offs – decreased by six per cent – from 23,271 to 21,836 offences – or 1,435 fewer incidents. While there was an overall decrease in that category, fuel theft offences were considerably higher in April 2026 – 523 incidents – compared with April 2025 when 368 offences were recorded.
The rolling year figures also reveal that homicide related offences continued to decrease with a 15 per cent decline reported – from 55 to 47 offences – or eight fewer incidents.
Within that category murder decreased by nine per cent – from 11 to 10 reported offences – while attempted murder declined by 35 per cent – from 23 to 15 offences. Manslaughter or driving causing death increased from 21 to 22 reported offences.
