Maribyrnong’s crime rate has surged by almost 18 per cent – the biggest increase in five years.
The number of offences recorded by police rose from 7887 to 9287 over the past financial year, figures released last week by the Crime Statistics Agency reveal.
Crime in Hobsons Bay rose just 2.4 per cent, from 6755 to 6920 recorded offences, while across Victoria, the average increase was 13.4 per cent.
Offences on the rise in Maribyrnong include assault (up 30.5 per cent, from 429 to 560), robbery (up 31.3 per cent, from 80 to 105) and weapons and explosives infringements (up 29.4 per cent, from 221 to 286).
Also on the rise were drug dealing and trafficking (up 41.5 per cent, from 123 to 174 cases), public nuisance (up 68.9 per cent, from 45 to 76), deception (mainly stolen credit cards; up 56 per cent, from 500 to 780), property damage (up 30.9 per cent, from 537 to 703) and theft (up 21.1 per cent, from 3400 to 4117).
Maribyrnong police’s Inspector Adrian Healy said reasons for the crime rise included Footscray’s transport hub attracting “transient-type activity”, and the suburb being a destination for drug users. He said there had been an increase in minor random assaults, but Maribyrnong had largely escaped the Apex-style home invasions or carjackings that sent fear through the community. While burglaries decreased, theft from cars increased, with about a third of the thefts being from unlocked vehicles.
“We rely on the community for assistance and if people think something’s not right or suspect someone’s breaking into a car or a house, let us know,” Inspector Healy said.
