March 28th, 2025Crime on the rise latest stats show
There were 605,640 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in 2024 – an increase of 82,237 offences or 15.7%.
When population growth is considered, the crime rate rose by 13.2% from 2023 (8,691.6 offences per 100,000 people). This is the highest crime rate since 2016.
In 2024, Victoria Police made the most arrests since electronic records commenced in 1993 – 26,519 people were arrested a total of 73,539 times. This equates to 201 arrests per day.
By comparison, Victoria Police made 65,627 arrests in 2023 and 58,124 arrests a decade ago.
The five fastest growing crimes in Victoria are:
Theft from motor vehicle (75,731 offences, +18,929) is both the most common and fastest growing crime. More than a third of these offences relate to number plate theft (27,466 offences), as criminals target plates to carry out further serious offending in stolen vehicles.
Power tools were the second most stolen item. While police continue to patrol hotspots across the state, there are some simple measures the community can take to prevent falling victim.
With 55% of all theft from motor vehicle offences showing no sign of forced entry, police urge the community to always lock their cars, remove valuables, and park off street where possible.
Theft from a retail store (38,750 offences, + 10,512) continues to reach record levels as sustained cost of living pressures result in more people resorting to stealing items such as groceries and clothing.
Alcohol is the most stolen item from stores, contributing to around a third of all shop steal offences.
Police intelligence shows shop steal syndicates are targeting alcohol for the purchase of on selling. Victoria Police busted one of these syndicates in January this year, with three men charged for their alleged role in the theft of more than $130,000 of liquor from 120 different stores across Melbourne.
Targeted operations in retail theft hotspots, such as South Yarra, Melbourne’s CBD, Port Melbourne, and Shepparton, continue regularly.
Theft (other) offences was the third fastest growing crime (56,653 offences, +10,138), with petrol the most common item stolen in this category (+27.6%, from 4179 to 5,334).
Other common examples of theft (other) offences include a wallet or phone being stolen when the owner puts it down, as opposed to being taken during a robbery.
Motor vehicle theft (28,922 offences, +8,432) recorded the largest percentage increase of the top five fastest growing crimes (+41.2%), reaching its highest levels since 2002.
Family violence order breaches (61,522, +7,956) increased as Victoria experienced an all-time record 104,786 family violence incidents (+10,620 or 11.3%). Last year, Victoria Police arrested 8,482 family violence offenders 15,487 times.
This story based on a Victoria Police report released last week.
