Cade Lucas
Fewer vehicles were broken into in Wyndham last year according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data released on Thursday.
For the year to December 2023, 1970 stealing from a motor vehicle offences were recorded in Wyndham, down from 2144 in 2022.
Stealing from a motor vehicle was the only major crime category to decline in Wyndham last year, resulting in it not being the most common offence recorded for the first time since 2020.
Other theft recorded the most offences in Wyndham for 2023, with 2085, up from 1780 the previous year.
Breaching family violence orders was the third most common offence with 1702, a slight increase on the 1668 recorded in 2022.
Criminal damage and stealing from a retail store rounded out the top five.
Overall, 18,574 criminal offences were recorded in Wyndham during 2023, an increase of 5.2 per cent or 926 offences on 2022.
When population growth is factored in, Wyndham recorded an offence rate of 5,746.8 per 100,000 people to December 2023, up from 5,709.0 at the corresponding point in 2022.
While both figures were up on the previous year, they were still lower than results statewide where recorded offences increased by 8.4 per cent and the rate of offending per 100,000 people was 7.689.2.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police said when adjusted for population growth, the overall crime in Wyndham remained steady, and that noticeable drops in areas such as residential and car break-ins showed their approach was working.
“On top of 24/7 patrols, Wyndham police conduct a whole range of proactive operations to keep the community safe.“ the spokesperson said.
“This includes Operations Shows, a regular nightly operation which sees general duties and specialist police target break-ins, car thefts and high risk driving.
Since launching in January 2022, Operation Shows has led to Wyndham police catching up with more than 720 offenders and impounding more than 160 vehicles from the roads.“
Police also said relationships with stakeholders such as local government, migrant communities and schools had contributed to the positive results.
Werribee was again the Wyndham suburb with the most offences, recording 5136 for 2023, up from 4972 in the previous year and more than 2000 ahead of second placed Hoppers Crossing on 3004.
Tarneit, Point Cook and Truganina recorded the next three highest totals.
Houses were again the most common location, though were slightly down on 2022, with 6958 recorded compared to 7034 the previous year.
Streets, lanes and footpaths were the second most common, more than 4000 behind, with 2398 recorded, the exact same figure as 2022.
Shopping complexes, driveways/carports and other retail were the other locations in the top five, with all recording less than 1000 and driveways and carports decreasing by 140 over the year.
Family violence incidents in Wyndham also increased in 2023, with 4496 up from 4299.
Wyndham’s rate of family violence offending per 100,000 people was 1,391.1, slightly above the Victorian rate of 1,384.7.
