By Alesha Capone
Drug, robberies and weapons offences have driven an almost nine per cent increase in recorded crime across Wyndham in the 12 months to June.
Latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency showed there were 15,305 crimes recorded in Wyndham in the past financial year, compared with 14,0444 offences in the previous 12 months – a rise of 8.9 per cent.
In the Wyndham area drug offences rose from 675 to 894, robbery offences rose from 155 to 186, weapons and explosives offences increased from 366 to 410, abductions went from 11 to 29 and homicide and related offences doubled from two offences to four.
Assaults and related offences also increased from 1274 to 1323.
While reports of family violence went up, non-family violence assaults were mostly down.
Burglaries and break-and-enters in Wyndham decreased substantially, from 1334 to 1114 offences in the 12 month period.
Residential aggravated burglaries fell from 98 to 82 offences.
Other types of crimes which fell in Wyndham included sexual offences (from 374 to 367) and stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour (401 to 367).
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people, such as dangerous driving, dropped from 189 to 173), as did public nuisance offences (125 to 104).
According to a media release from the state opposition, the latest data also showed that one in 78 Victorians are criminal offenders and one in 33 Victorians are a victim of crime.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said crimes in which people suddenly found themselves face-to-face with an intruder in their home, or had their car violently stolen from them in the street, were an “absolute priority” for the force.
