Crime is rising in Wyndham, according to the latest data released by the Crime Statistics Agency.
The data displayed a near 10 per cent rise in recorded offences in Wyndham between July 2023 and June 2024.
A total of 20,144 offences were recorded, up 9.9 per cent from the 18,323 offences recorded in the previous year.
Werribee recorded the most offences at 5463, with Hoppers Crossing coming in second at 3367, while Tarneit, Point Cook and Truganina rounded out the top five.
Tarneit recorded the sharpest rise among the top five suburbs, recording 3301 offences compared to 2477 the year before.
Despite coming in fifth, Truganina’s recorded incidents dropped from 1493 to 1489.
Theft-related offences occupied three out of the top five offence subgroups, with stealing from a motor vehicle, other theft and motor vehicle theft placing first, second and fifth respectively.
Recorded incidents related to stealing from motor vehicles were recorded at 2573, increasing from 2143 in the previous year.
Offences categorised as other theft also saw a significant increase, jumping from 1951 to 2186.
Motor vehicle theft shot up from 816 recorded offences in June 2023 to 1093 in June 2024.
While remaining far and away the most common place for recorded offences to occur, 7183 offences were recorded in houses, down from 7265 registered a year before.
Total recorded offences in houses remained more than the aggregate of the next four location categories.
Streets/laneways, driveways, shopping centres and other retail facilities each were the locations of more recorded offences than in the previous year.
Across Victoria, there were 552,228 criminal offences recorded in the 12 months to June 2024, an increase of 50,253 offences or 9.1 per cent from the previous 12 months.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Chris Gilbert commented on the statewide increase in theft-related offences.
“Victoria’s four fastest growing crimes are all related to opportunistic offending – theft from motor vehicles, retail theft, motor vehicle theft, and the theft of other items such as petrol.
“Police continue to see far too many properties burgled and cars stolen due to unlocked doors and windows, so we urge the community to take simple measures such as checking your home and car is locked before heading to bed.”
