Crime stats up in Moorabool

There are some good signs in the latest statistics on criminal offences, despite an overall crime increase, according to Victoria Police.

Statistics on criminal offences over the 12-months to March 2023 were released on Thursday 15 June, with an increase of 26,424 offences recorded. When population growth is taken into account, overall crime increased by 3.5 per cent (7,349.1 offences per 100,000 people, up from 7,102.3).

Overall crimes against the person increased by 3.2 per cent year-on-year, driven mainly by crimes such as assault and dangerous driving.

However, offences such as stalking and harassment, rape, and sex offences against children saw a decrease.

Overall crime also remains 9.1 per cent below pre-COVID levels, with 45,470 less offences than in the twelve months leading up to March 2020.

“Serious offences including family violence serious assaults, rape, sex offences against children, and stalking and harassment all recorded reductions,” Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Rick Nugent said.

“While this is positive, there are clearly a number of areas of concern that police are investing significant energy and resources towards. Every single night, we have significant numbers of local police working alongside the Air Wing, Dog Squad, and Public Order Response Team until dawn to prevent burglaries and car thefts from occurring.”

A Melbourne-wide operation has seen over 200 burglars and car thieves arrested during the night over a three-month period.

“Our intelligence is telling us there has been a decrease in burglaries and associated car thefts since the operation commenced, however we will not let up,” Deputy Commissioner Nugent said.

“In some parts of Melbourne, up to 70 per cent of homes broken into are unlocked, so we also implore the community to take simple measures such as looking all doors, windows, and gates to help foil opportunistic thieves.”

Moorabool Shire also saw an increase in offences recorded, with 2,185 offences in the 12-months to March 2023, compared to 2,041 recorded last year, an increase of 7.1 per cent.

The top five offence subgroups in Moorabool were breach family violence order, steal from a motor vehicle, criminal damage, other theft, and residential non-aggravated burglary, which all increased from the same time last year.

The top five suburbs for offending were Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Maddingley, Ballan, and Leigh Creek, with Bacchus