By Gladys Barreta
Theft and breaches of family violence orders remain among the most commonly recorded crime offences in Melton and Moorabool, according to new data published by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA).
Crime rates have significantly increased in the Melton region, with a total of 15,234 recorded offences by the end of December 2024, a 19.4 per cent rise from the previous year, which recorded 12,763 offences.
In contrast, Moorabool’s crime rates show more positive statistics, with 2592 offences recorded by the end of December 2024, marking a slight 0.1 per cent increase from 2,590 offences in the previous year.
Other theft and theft from a motor vehicle were the most frequently recorded offences in Melton for 2024, with 1867 and 1831 offences, respectively.
Melton Inspector Pat Cantone said theft from motor vehicles is the most commonly reported and detected crime across the state.
“Local and specialised police units continue to patrol hotspots in Melton and Moorabool to detect and deter offences,” said Inspector Cantone.
“There are also simple measures the community can take to prevent falling victim – always lock your car, remove valuables, never leave your car unattended while running, and, where possible, park off the street.”
Inspector Cantone also encouraged residents to use anti-theft screws, as about a third of all thefts from cars in Melton involve the theft of number plates.
“Police continue to work with local councils to enhance crime prevention measures, including improved lighting and CCTV, to detect and deter offences.”
Moorabool recorded a slight decrease in breaches of family violence order offences in 2024, with a 0.05 per cent drop from 355 offences in 2023 to 354 offences in 2024, although this offence remains the most recorded in the region.
However, Melton experienced an increase in breaches, rising from ,625 in 2023 to 1684 in 2024.
Inspector Cantone said police will continue to work to apprehend family violence perpetrators and bring them before the courts to ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
“We encourage victims to seek help from police or a support service—when you’re ready, speak to us or speak to someone you know,” said Inspector Cantone.
