Theft from motor vehicles has again driven an increase in crime in the inner west.
The latest data released by the Crime Statistics Agency last month shows that for the year to September 2025, recorded offences rose by 14 per cent in Hobsons Bay and 11 per cent in Maribyrnong, with stealing from a motor vehicle by far the most common offence in both.
In Hobsons Bay, 1379 thefts from a vehicle were recorded, compared to 1095 to September 2024, an increase of 26 per cent.
Other theft was the next most common offence, increasing from 760 to 816, with retail theft third on 633 up from 422.
Along with theft from motor vehicles, the theft of motor vehicles themselves also increased, with 526 stolen, 44 per cent more than the 363 from a year earlier.
Many of these thefts occurred in Altona North which recorded the most crime of any suburb in Hobsons Bay with 1691, a jump of 43 per cent.
Second placed Williamstown recorded a reduction in crime with 1292 offences down from 1434.
Houses remained the most common location for crime with 1961 compared to 1867, but crime on streets, lanes and footpaths rose sharply from 1166 to 1508.
Overall 7906 offences were recorded in the municipality compared to 6942 to the same point in 2024.
In Maribyrnong, motor vehicle theft was by far the most common offence, rising by 44 per cent over the year from 1908 to 2753, 1600 more than second placed other theft on 1153, an improvement from 1391 a year earlier.
Footscray recorded 4510 offences, up from 4034 to September 2024 and more than double next placed Maribyrnong on 2187.
Streets, lanes and footpaths were again the most common locations for crimes in Maribyrnong with 2863, well ahead of houses on 1947.
Crime in shopping complexes marginally improved from 702 to 674.
A total of 12,441 offences were recorded in Maribyrnong to September 2025, more than a thousand more than the 11,209 to the same point in 2024.
Crime in both inner west municipalities increased by more than the statewide figure of 10.8 per cent.
