Last year saw a curious twist in the tale of crime, with car thefts taking a nosedive for the first time since 2020. Can you believe it? We’re talking a decrease from 2,144 to 1,970 reported thefts in 2023.
But hold your horses, because while car thefts hit the brakes, other types of thievery decided to step up their game, racking up a total of 2,085 instances.
| Crime Category | 2023 Numbers | 2022 Numbers | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stealing from a motor vehicle | 1,970 | 2,144 | Decrease |
| Other theft | 2,085 | 1,780 | Increase |
| Breaching family violence orders | 1,702 | 1,668 | Increase |
| Total Criminal Offences | 18,574 | 17,648 | Increase |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000) | 5,746.8 | 5,709.0 | Slight Increase |
Now, let’s talk about the real headaches. Family violence order breaches and criminal damage? Yeah, they’re making their presence known, ranking high on the list of common crimes.
And get this, despite a 5.2% surge in total crimes to a whopping 18,574 instances, the crime rate per 100,000 people only slightly nudged up, thankfully staying below the state average.
Victoria Police are patting themselves on the back, claiming their policing strategies are the reason behind this somewhat stable crime scene. Apparently, their crackdowns on break-ins and reckless driving are doing wonders, especially in curbing those pesky house and car break-ins.
But wait, there’s more. Werribee and Hoppers Crossing seem to be having their own little competition for the title of “Crime Central” within Wyndham. Surprise, surprise, most of these shenanigans are going down in residential areas.
And guess what? Family violence incidents decided to poke their heads above the state average, just to keep things interesting.
So, drumroll, please! Here are the top three suburbs playing host to these criminal escapades: Werribee with a whopping 5,136 incidents (up from 4,972, mind you), followed by Hoppers Crossing with 3,004 cases. And the not-so-honorable mentions go to Tarneit, Point Cook, and Truganina, boasting some substantial numbers themselves.
When it comes to favorite hangouts for these mischief-makers, houses are still topping the charts, though there’s been a slight dip from last year. Meanwhile, streets, lanes, and footpaths seem to be maintaining their popularity amongst the lawless crowd. Oh, and let’s not forget the shopping complexes, driveways, and carports – they’ve seen a decline in action compared to the previous year.
And last but not least, let’s shine a light on family violence. Brace yourselves for this one, folks. We’re looking at a total of 4,496 incidents in 2023 (up from 4,299 in 2022). And the rate of family violence offending per 100,000 people? It’s sitting just a tad above the Victorian average.
