Williams Landing houses are being broken into more often than any other suburb in Wyndham, new data reveals.
RACV burglary statistics, based on police crime figures, show that one in 26 houses in Williams Landing was broken into last financial year.
The suburb had the second-highest rate of burglary in the state, behind only Heidelberg Heights. But the statistics also revealed an overall decline in residential burglaries in Wyndham, with Williams Landing the city’s only suburb included in the top 10 suburbs for burglary.
In 2011-12, Williams Landing was joined on the list by Wyndham Vale, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina.
In 2012-13, one in 44 houses in Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina was broken into, while one in 43 in Wyndham and one in 40 in Werribee and Point Cook was targeted by thieves.
Inspector Damien Christensen said Wyndham’s burglary unit had been focusing on areas where houses were being broken into frequently, in an effort to reduce the city’s residential burglary rate.
Police statistics show that 1287 residential burglaries were reported to police last financial year, down from 1680 in 2011-12.
Inspector Christensen said Williams Landing remained an area of concern because it was a growing suburb with minimal occupied residences and a number of houses under construction.
Wyndham crime prevention officer Leading Senior Constable Craig McDonald said people needed to identify security gaps in houses to deter thieves from breaking in.
“Too many people don’t take action on obvious and visible security problems such as faulty locks, security doors, sensor lights and grills on windows,” he said.
