The area surrounding the University of Otago in Dunedin recorded its highest number of reported crimes for four years in March, a police report says.
Crime victim statistics for regions around the country since July 2014 are available on the police website.
The latest statistics, to May, came out last weekend. The information is designed to show where and at what times of the day or week crimes occur, but statistics also reveal monthly trends.
In March, 30 people reported they were the victims of crime in the area surrounding the university.
There were 13 reports of thefts and related offences, seven of break-ins, four of sexual assaults or related offences, and six of ''acts intended to cause injury''.
The second-highest number of reported crimes in the area, 29, was recorded in March 2016, and numbers tended to be higher each February and March.
A university spokeswoman said without analysing the statistics in detail, it was difficult to tell why numbers rose in March but it was possibly due to the timing of orientation.
The geographical area identified as ''Otago University'' by police took in places where university students, non-students, and polytechnic students were all living, she said.
The suburb identified by police stretched from the Forsyth Barr Stadium area, taking in the campus and parts of Dunedin's two one-way streets, and running from Frederick St to Dundas St. It also included part of Queens Dr.
''Most [students] are law-abiding, hardworking and contributing members of society, but like with any group there are some who break the law,'' the spokeswoman said.
''Anecdotally, students rarely commit serious offences.''
As well as having the Campus Watch available 24 hours a day, the university had recently invested heavily in a CCTV project reaching out into the North Dunedin area to keep students safe, she said.
Reported crimes that occurred in a dwelling - with the exception of burglary - are not covered by the police data for privacy reasons, and homicides are also excluded from statistics.
Other suburbs with the high numbers of reported crimes in March included the High St to Stuart St area, which incorporated half of the Octagon and stretched to Queen's Dr.
Thirty-two crimes were reported in the area, and the Stuart St to Frederick St area recorded 38.
Suburbs with the lowest number included Andersons Bay, Vauxhall, St Kilda, Balmacewen, Pine Hill and Maori Hill, recording fewer than five.
