DRUG offences have more than doubled in Wyndham in the past year, according to Victoria Police’s latest crime statistics.
Between July 2011 and June this year, 514 drug offences were recorded in the municipality.
The figure was a 64 per cent increase on the previous year, when 313 drug offences were recorded.
Detective Acting Sergeant Michael Kearnes said the spike in drug offences came amid a large-scale operation to crack down on hydroponic cannabis set-ups.
“There has been a significant operation conducted here during the last quarter, and as a result of that there have been nine houses with hydroponic set-ups in rental properties raided in a very short period of time,” he said.
As reported by the Weekly, more than 700 mature cannabis plants, worth about $2.8 million, were discovered in three houses in Tarneit and Truganina in April. Detective Kearnes said police had charged several people as a result of ongoing investigations.
“We’re waiting on forensic evidence to determine if and how many of these operations are linked to each other,” he said.
Wyndham also recorded a significant increase in motor vehicle thefts (37 per cent). In the 12 months to June, 512 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
Wyndham’s then inspector Cindy Millen, who has since taken up a role in Chief Commissioner Ken Lay’s office, said other problem areas were theft from motor vehicles, up 14 per cent, and residential burglaries, up 22 per cent.
“We now have a dedicated burglary crew and tasking unit who focus on recidivist offenders and the offences of theft of and theft from motor vehicles,” former inspector Millen said.
She said the public could help reduce thefts by removing valuables from cars and having one-way screws fitted to numberplates to prevent them from being stolen.
“Many offenders use the stolen plates to steal petrol. We have been working closely with retailers to reduce this offence.”
Data also revealed a 36 per cent drop in the number of reported robberies between July 2011 and June this year and a 12 per cent decrease in assault excluding family violence.
Wyndham’s results in these areas were below the state average, while the number of property damage offences reported to police were on par.
Former inspector Millen said family violence continued to contribute to reports of property damage.
Assaults including family violence increased 3 per cent. “Family violence-related crime continues to increase at a faster rate then non-family violence-related crime in Wyndham.
“We have a dedicated family violence unit who work closely with other agencies to encourage reporting and reduce repeat offending,” she said.
