June 28th, 2024Crime up: latest data shows concerning trend

There were 535,673 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in the twelve months to March 2024 – an increase of 39,261 offences or 7.9%, newly released crime data shows.

The true crime rate, which factors in Victoria’s population growth, stands at 7,687.5 offences per 100,000 people – a 5.5% increase from the year before.

While overall crime has gradually increased since Victoria emerged from the pandemic, offending has still not reached pre-pandemic levels.

The true crime rate remains 6.2% below the twelve months to March 2020, while there were 6,381 fewer criminal offences committed than in the twelve months immediately before coronavirus reached Victoria.

The top five offences to record the greatest year-on-year increase were:

• Theft from motor vehicle (59,160 offences, +9,281). While this offence recorded the greatest increase, there were still 5,248 less crimes of this nature than in the twelve months to March 2020. Police intelligence shows unlocked vehicles are targeted, with more than 60% of cars recently broken into in one hotspot found to be unlocked.

• Theft from a retail store (29,747 offences, + 7,635). Targeting of essential items such as food, alcohol and groceries is driving this increase. Other states are also experiencing rising shop steal offences, in line with inflation, cost of living pressures and high interest rates. Police intelligence indicates as many as 50% of offenders are first time shop stealers, while a quarter are first time criminal offenders.

• Theft (other) offences (48,339 offences, +4,638). The most common theft (other) offence is theft of petrol, which may also be linked to cost of living pressures.

• Motor vehicle theft (21,463 offences, +3,964). This is the highest number of offences since 2017. Police intelligence indicates the three most common places cars are stolen are from a residential area (with no associated offence), non-residential street or carpark, and during an aggravated burglary.

• Criminal damage offences (38,638 offences, + 3,045) round out the top five offences to increase year-on-year.

Victoria Police recorded the highest number of arrests in the last five years, with 67,937 people arrested and charged in the past 12 months.

Police intelligence indicates recidivist offenders account for over two thirds of the state’s total crime. This was particularly relevant for offences such as home burglaries and thefts, Victoria Police said in a statement issued last week.