Violent crime is on the rise at Highpoint shopping centre despite a drop in overall offences.
Crime Statistics Agency data obtained by Star Weekly in the wake of recent high-profile robberies at the centre reveals a spike in robberies and assaults crimes in the 12 months to September.
In the five years to September there have been 70 assaults, more than 20 sexual offences, and 28 robberies, including 14 in the last 12 months.
There were 4143 total crimes in the same period, peaking at 926 in 2013 and dropping to 701 last year due to a decline in theft.
The data shows the number of assaults and robberies is at a five-year high.
Footscray police’s Inspector Adrian Healy said police had been working closely with Highpoint management to tackle crime.
“There’s an extensive security and CCTV network in and around the centre,” he said.
“There are a few incidents of late that have generated attention; it generally tends to be youth offending.”
A spokeswoman for centre operators GPT said the safety and security of visitors to Highpoint was always a top priority.
She said the centre team had been in regular contact with the families of the teenagers robbed in recent incidents at the centre “to provide any support we can”.
“We can’t discuss our security measures in detail, but we invest to ensure the safety and security of all visitors, through security staffing and CCTV. Such incidents are unacceptable in the centre and we take them very seriously.”
The spokeswoman said the centre hosted about 16.7 million visits each year.
The CSA data shows Altona Gate shopping centre recorded 580 crimes in the five years to September, including 32 assaults.
Central Square shopping centre in Altona Meadows recorded 399 crimes in the same period, including 21 assaults.
