Offence rate cools as crims feel heat

A COMBINATION of strategic operations and mother nature is helping put the freeze on nuisance crimes.

Townsville Crime Services Group Detective Acting Inspector Phil Watts said there was almost a seasonal pattern to property crimes including break- ins and car thefts in the region.

He said police noticed a decline in property offences during the cooler months.

The explanation was simple.

Insp Watts said the drop in temperatures meant fewer people, including youths, were walking the streets at night.

“A lot of property crime is opportunistic,” he said.

“( During winter) these crimes of opportunity, they decrease.”

He said many of the property crime offenders would spend their time trying out doors on homes and cars to see if they were unlocked.

Insp Watts said the ongoing Operation Eminent targeting such offences was also a factor in the current drop in property crime.

Queensland Police Service crime map statistics show a drop in offending when the full force of summer fades away.

From September 1, 2015, to March 30, 2016, there was a total of 42 unlawful entry and unlawful use of motor vehicle offences in Townsville City, 176 offences in Kirwan and 77 in Mundingburra.

From April 1, 2016, to August 31, 2016, those offence numbers dropped with 13 re- corded in Townsville City, 166 in Kirwan and 45 in Mundingburra.

From September 1, 2016, to March 30, 2017 there were 42 offences recorded in Townsville City, 286 in Kirwan and 57 in Mundingburra.

From April 1, 2017, to August 31, 2017, there were 22 offences in Townsville City, 94 in Kirwan and 30 in Mundingburra. Insp Watts said anecdotally there was a noticeable increase in domestic violence and assault- type offences during the summer months.

A LOT OF PROPERTY CRIME IS OPPORTUNISTIC. DURING WINTER THESE CRIMES ... DECREASE INSP PHIL WATTS