Cade Lucas
Crime in the inner-west is on the rise according to the latest data released by the Crime Statistics Agency on Thursday.
Results for the year to June showed recorded offences rose by nearly 15 per cent in Maribyrnong and almost 14 per cent in Hobsons Bay.
A total of 10,631 offences were recorded in Maribyrnong, 14.9 per cent higher than the 9255 offences recorded to the same point a year earlier.
Hobsons Bay recorded 6416 offences, a 13.8 per cent increase on the 5640 recorded to June 2023.
Statewide, 552,228 offences were recorded for the year, up 9.1 per cent.
In Maribyrnong, Footscray recorded the most offences with 3804 compared to 3048 a year earlier and more than second place Maribyrnong (1740) and third placed Braybrook (1574) combined.
Streets lanes and footpaths overtook houses as Maribyrnong’s most common location for crime, with 2131 offences recorded, up from 1727.
Crime in houses actually fell, dropping from 1954 to 1718.
Stealing from a motor vehicle remained Maribyrnong’s most common crime, with 1684 offences recorded, up from 1445.
Other theft was next on 1316, ahead of stealing from retail (740), criminal damage (717) and motor vehicle theft (572).
Williamstown was again the suburb with the most offences in Hobsons Bay, recording 1366 compared to 1052 to June 2023.
Altona North came second with 1113, ahead of Altona (748). which leapfrogged Altona Meadows (714) into third place.
Houses remained by far the most common crime location, with 1741, ahead of streets lanes and footpaths on 1127.
Other retail was the only location to record a reduction in offences, dropping from 233 to 208.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police blamed the increase on property and deception offences, which jumped by nearly 10 per cent in Hobsons Bay.
However the spokesperson pointed out that Hobsons Bay still had the fourth lowest crime rate of any council area in Melbourne and that most crime types in Maribyrnong remained steady.
Family violence incidents in Maribyrnong dropped by 8.1 per cent.
However, Hobsons Bay recorded a 3.7 per cent increase and the police spokesperson said the issue required constant vigilance.
“That’s why our specialist family violence detectives are out every day to proactively target and apprehend wanted family violence perpetrators and ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
