By Ewen McRae
Crime rates across Melton have remained relatively steady in the 12 months to June, according to the latest data.
Figures released last week from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency showed a four per cent rise in recorded crime compared to the same period last year.
In the burglary/break and enter category, which includes aggravated burglaries, 1035 incidents were recorded, almost 300 fewer than during the peak recording year of 2016, when 1325 incidents were recorded.
Melton local area commander Zorka Dunstan said the results were pleasing overall.
“Overall it doesn’t look too bad, especially when you consider our population growth,” Inspector Dunstan said.
“It’s pleasing to see the rate per population numbers going down, and there’s nothing that really seems to be jumping out as a major issue or alarming.
“The most pleasing thing is that aggravated burglaries have gone down, and they were a real issue for us at the start of last year.
“I would suggest that we’re tracking along quite nicely.”
The number of drug offences rose from 467 to 578, but Inspector Dunstan said that did not necessarily indicate a growing problem.
“We did have a period where we had quite a number of drug operations that targeted this area, so that tends to attract the offence rate going up,” she said.
“That wasn’t unexpected from our end, but it is an area that we keep a strong focus on.”
For Moorabool, recorded crime fell by about three per cent in the 12 months to June.
Theft offences were down to 634 from 788, while burglary/break and enter offences were also down substantially, from 221 to 177, the best result since 2011.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said crimes in which people suddenly found themselves face-to-face with an intruder in their home, or had their car violently stolen from them in the street, were an “absolute priority” for the force.
