Online hook-ups leading to attacks

TINDER, eBay and Gumtree users are being warned not to invite ‘strangers’ into their homes after there was a rise in the number of people attacked after connecting with others on social media.

During the past financial year, sexual offences across Greater Geelong rose 11.6 per cent, with 444 reported cases. Assaults rose 16.7 per cent.

Speaking on the latest round of crime statistics, Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the “new phenomenon” was a worrying development and urged Victorians to be vigilant around their own personal safety.

“Our assaults are up, which is concerning. A lot that happened on the streets was drug and alcohol related, but there’s been an interesting development in more recent times,” he said.

“What we’re seeing is the use of social media, whether it be in relation to dating, eBay or Gumtree property sales, where people are connecting and meeting, often at someone’s home, and a crime is being committed as a result of that interaction.

“Some of that is in relation to assaults, some sexual offending and some linked to property crime from people wanting to get together to steal clothes, right through to luxury cars. The message from us is if you’re going to engage in behaviour online ... think it through and think about where that meeting should actually occur.”

Acting Detective Sergeant Daryl Crosthwaite said Geelong wasn’t immune from the online issue and had seen similar assault and theft-related cases reported here in recent years. He urged Geelong residents to avoid inviting strangers into their homes.