Crime figures climb

Latest crime statistics have revealed an 11.6 per cent increase in offences for the Baw Baw police services area.

The total number of offences increased from 3784 to 4223 for the 12 month period ending in September 2018, according to statistics recently released by the Crime Statistics Agency.

Drug offences and property crime including burglaries and thefts saw the biggest shifts with drug offences up 16.6 per cent and property and deception offences increasing 16.4 per cent.

Inspector Alison Crombie acknowledged the 16 per cent increase in drug offences in the community had a flow on effect to other crime.

“Drug use is the driver of other criminal activity in the community, whether it’s thefts from cars or petrol drive-offs.

“Police are aware there is significant drug activity occurring in the community.

“We continue to work with the divisional tasking unit to closely target drug offences.

“And we encourage community members to report suspicious activity. It all helps to join the dots and get evidence as part of our investigations,” she said.

While crimes against the person increased only 6.3 per cent, family violence offences were a major contributor, with the number of serious family violence offences increasing 27 per cent from 83 to 110.

Insp Crombie said this increase was expected following introduction of the new family violence unit in Baw Baw.

She said the latest statistics represented the unit’s first 12 months of work.

“Over that 12 months the public has gained more confidence to report to us. We look at that as a good thing.

“The family violence unit has been positive in targeting recidivist offenders and serious incidents where there have been threats to kill.

“The figures will start to plateau, and it is starting to do that now,” she said.

Insp Crombie said thefts of cars and from cars continued to be a major problem in the area.

With property offences jumping from 1862 to 2168, thefts accounted for more than half of the offences at 1238.

Thefts increased 12 per cent and burglaries increased 14 per cent.

“Thefts of cars and from cars are still our biggest concern.

“It boils down to what we have always said. The community needs to take responsibility and lock their vehicles and remove valuables,” she said.

Insp Crombie stressed that Baw Baw was still a safe place to live and crime rates were comparative to other Gippsland municipalities and well below Latrobe where there were 10,000 more offences for the 12 month period.

“But the population here is growing and with the growth we are going to get an influx of people that may not have the same values.

“Geographically, we do seem to attract offenders from Melbourne or some that are just driving through.

“And it is people who aren’t locking their houses that become the victims of these opportunists,” Insp Crombie said.