By Olivia Condous
The crime rate across Melton and Moorabool has dropped significantly in the year to March 2022, according to data released today.
The total number of recorded criminal offences is down 13 per cent in the City of Melton, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) data.
According to the data, there were 13,993 criminal offences recorded in the 12 months prior to March 2021 and 12,103 recorded up until the same quarter this year.
Despite the overall decrease in crime, burglary and robbery offences have increased in Melton over the 12 month period, by 13 and 32 per cent respectively.
There was a 33 per cent drop in drug related offences recorded, marking the lowest amount recorded in the last seven years.
Weapons and explosives offences also dropped by 25 per cent.
While the crime rate overall dropped, some suburbs in the area did experience increases, as Caroline Springs had a 10 per cent increase in assault offences and an 82 per cent jump in burglary, breaking and entering offences from 33 to 62 recorded.
Bonnie Brook and Deanside experienced increases in thefts recorded, with 50 and 39 more offences respectively recorded compared to the previous 12 months.
The total number of recorded offences in the suburb of Diggers Rest also increased by 18 per cent.
Melton police local area commander Inspector Lisa Prentice-Evans acknowledged while crime was down in the Melton local government area, police were committed to providing a high visible presence to deter offending.
“Most crime categories have recorded decreases, with robberies in the Melton area being slightly increased.
“It should be noted that most offenders committing these robberies are identified quickly and we ensure that victims are provided welfare support,” Inspector Prentice-Evans said.
“We are actively running enforcement operations to disrupt and deter offending, while also focusing on early intervention initiatives to deter people away from crimes.”
In the Moorabool Shire, there was a 22 per cent decrease in the total criminal offences recorded.
The larger towns in the region individually experienced a significant reduction in crime, with a 36 per cent decrease overall in Bacchus Marsh and a 53 per cent drop in Ballan.
However, across the whole shire there was a 19 per cent increase in drug offences and a 55 per cent increase in stalking and harrassment crimes recorded.
