A GANG of youths who stole from about 100 motor vehicles across Wyndham have contributed to a spike in the city’s crime rate, says Inspector Damien Christensen.
Latest Victoria Police crime statistics reveal that in the year to April almost 12,500 offences were reported, up 5.1 per cent from the previous year.
Thefts from motor vehicles increased 17.6 per cent, with 1899 reports made to police.
Inspector Christensen said Wyndham’s crime impact team had been working to reduce thefts from motor vehicles and recently charged a group of young people with close to 100 thefts. The team had also charged a woman with a series of number plate thefts.
“These two groups of offenders have contributed to the increase in this crime,” he said.
“Our patrols and operations have been dedicated towards targeting recidivism.
“Police have continued to achieve many excellent results in crime reduction during the past year.”
Inspector Christensen said most of the thefts occurred when doors and windows were left open or tools were left in the back of utes and trucks.
Wyndham recorded an increase in family violence assaults of more than 25 per cent.
Inspector Christensen said the rise could be attributed to more people reporting family violence.
“An increase in family violence assaults, where people are reporting for the first time, gives police and support agencies the opportunity to provide assistance to families and people in need before an escalation of violence occurs,” Inspector Christensen said.
Women’s Health West chief executive Robyn Gregory said the higher reporting rates reflected a greater willingness by women to speak out, but economic and other stresses also led to higher rates of violence.
“There are a number of family violence orders being breached, which is a bad thing,” Dr Gregory said. “But the good thing is it means it is coming to the attention of police and women are being referred to our service.”
Residential burglaries, which have been an ongoing problem for local police, fell 2.9 per cent despite the number of houses being built in the municipality, while robbery figures dropped almost 30 per cent.
Inspector Christensen said the decrease in robberies was the result of operations and patrols at known troublespots such as shopping centres.
