Robberies have soared more than 70 per cent in Wyndham, with significant increases in assaults and car theft also driving an overall 7 per cent leap in the crime level.
According to the latest Victoria Police statistics, non-residential burglaries are up but residential burglaries are down, as are drug offences, thefts from motor vehicles and property damage.
There were 111 robberies recorded in 2013-14, compared with 65 in 2012-13.
Rape dropped by 16.6 per cent, but there were 1345 assaults in Wyndham in the 12 months to July – an average of almost four a day and an increase of 8.8 per cent on the 2012-13 figures.
While the number of non-residential burglaries leapt 49.2 per cent, an average of almost 10 cars were stolen every week in Wyndham, pushing car theft up 9.8 per cent.
There was a spike of more than 36 per cent in thefts, including shop stealing, petrol theft and theft of personal property.
Residential burglaries fell 24.4 per cent, while drug offences dropped 16.6 per cent, thefts from motor vehicles dipped 5.6 per cent and property damage dropped 5.4 per cent.
Wyndham’s Inspector Damien Christensen said family violence continued to be a major contributor to the city’s high number of assaults.
“The emotional and financial impact of family violence on individuals, extended family members and the community is excessive.
“Wyndham doesn’t have crisis accommodation and that’s a major problem in itself, because we want people to be able to escape family violence to a safe place.”
Inspector Christensen said the rise in robberies was a concern.
“Many of these robberies are occurring where demands are made for people to hand over mobile phones and are not involving weapons,” he said.
“Our focus on assaults has included reducing the number of assaults that occur on our members, at licensed venues and in places of mass gatherings such as shopping centres.
“The rise in non-residential burglaries is a focus for our members and we are looking to address this with local businesses and schools.”
