Maribyrnong’s crime rate surged by more than 16 per cent in the year to March, new data reveals.
According to the Crime Statistics Agency, there were 10,102 offences recorded in the Maribyrnong municipality in the 12 months to March, up from 8664 offences during the previous 12 months.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the increase in crime in Maribyrnong was largely due to a rise in property offences, including vehicle-related thefts and retail store thefts.
The municipality recorded a 16.5 per cent increase in stealing from a motor vehicle, with 1536 offences recorded in the year to March, up from 1319 offences as of March 2023. This was the top offence category in the 12 months to March this year.
“To target this issue Maribyrnong has established a dedicated vehicle crime reduction team which sole purpose is to investigate and prevent car thefts,: the police spokesperson said.
Other thefts rose 45.2 per cent, from 871 offences as of March 2023, to 1265 offences as of March 2024, making it the second most common offence in Maribyrnong.
There were 205 more thefts from retail stores in Maribyrnong in the year to March (715 offences, up from 510), while criminal damage offences rose from 601 incidents in the year to March 2023, to 705 incidents in the year to March 2024.
Footscray recorded the highest number of offences in the municipality (3519), followed by Maribyrnong (1786) and Braybrook (1532).
“Maribyrnong police also regularly conduct operations in Footscray CBD to deter and detect anti-social behaviour,” the police spokesperson said.
“Only last month, the blitz resulted in 20 arrests and 23 outstanding warrants being executed.”
Meanwhile, overall crime in Hobsons Bay rose by 2.2 per cent, up from 5839 offences in the year to March 2023, to 5968 offences in the year to March 2024.
According to police, overall crime in the municipality has dropped by 1.4 per cent from pre-pandemic years.
” In fact, the latest data shows Hobsons Bay recorded the fourth lowest criminal offences out of 31 metropolitan [local government areas],” the police spokesperson said.
The slight rise in criminal offences in Hobsons Bay in the 12 months to March was driven by an increase in justice offences, such as breaches of family violence or intervention orders, or perverting the course of justice. Offences in this category rose from 511 offences as of March 2023, to 657 offences as of March 2024.
“This shows police are continually arresting offenders for breaching court orders, including family violence orders, and holding perpetrators to account,” the police spokesperson said.
