Aggravated burglaries across Wyndham have hit a five-year high.
Crime Statistics Victoria data released last week revealed a 62.4 per cent surge in aggravated burglaries across the municipality in the 12 months to March 31, and a 17.8 per cent jump in robberies – two categories that have caused increased concern in the community.
A total 164 aggravated burglaries were recorded in Wyndham, up from 101 the previous year. Non-aggravated burglaries were down 8.4 per cent from 1817 to 1664.
Neighbourhood Watch Tarneit hosted a community safety forum last month in response to a spate of violent crimes across Wyndham including a shooting and stabbing in Knightsbridge Drive, Tarneit, on May 28, and a jogger attacked by a group of up to 10 youths in a Truganina park on May 19.
Despite this, overall crime across Wyndham is down 3.3 per cent.
According to the Crime Statistics Agency, there were decreases in the number of homicides, abductions, arson offences, property offences and public nuisance offences.
On the flip side, sexual offences, assaults, drug use and disorderly and offensive conduct were on the rise.
Police are cracking down on aggravated burglaries, carjackings, robberies and stolen vehicles in two targeted operations across Wyndham and surrounding areas, in operations Regnant and Wayward.
Wyndham Police Acting Inspector Peter Bitton said while the overall reduction was encouraging, there was more work to be done.
He said family violence was behind many crimes in the region, including sexual offences and assaults.
Meanwhile, Miriam Spiess of Neighbourhood Watch Point Cook Central called on Wyndham council to start a trial across three Point Cook parks – Florey Park in the Innisfail estate, Hargrave Park in the Kingsford estate and the park by Featherbrook Drive in the Saratoga estate – which would involve installing sprinkler systems and improved lighting to deter crime and enhance perceptions of safety.
“Many in our community do not feel safe in their homes due to large groups of youths congregating in parks,” Ms Spiess said.
“Currently, we know of many crimes that are going unreported to police due to the level of under-resourcing of the police force.”
