POLICE have blamed a downturn in the economy for the first crime rise in three years in Hobsons Bay.
A 13per cent spike was recorded in the 12 months to March this year, according to police figures released last Friday.
Crimes against the person, such as assault, rose 4.5 per cent to 737. There were 374 street assaults and 171 domestic assaults reported to police, up 6per cent from the previous year.
Crimes against property jumped 16.4 per cent to 4438. The sharpest increase was in residential burglary, rising 18.5 per cent from 416 to 493. Non-residential break-ins, such as those at shops and factories, rose 8.4 per cent from 179 to 194.
Reported drug offences increased 2.2 per cent to 235.
Car theft and thefts from cars rose by 1.9 and 1.1 per cent, respectively.
However, robberies dropped 9.3 per cent from 75 to 68.
Road injuries from January-December 2011 rose 12.1 per cent to 232, up 25 from the previous year.
Inspector Bill Mathers said the crime rise was disappointing, but stressed it had come off a low base. “Hobsons Bay has experienced a continual reduction of crime offences for the past three years.
“While the increase is disappointing, we were aware that the low levels of crime would be very difficult to maintain and because we have driven down our base rates of offending, this is reflected through high percentages when there are rises.
“The rise in crime we suspect may be linked to the downturn in the economy.
“Residential burglaries have increased from 416 to 493, which equates to an increase of approximately seven burglaries a month. This is disappointing and we are working hard to reduce this.
“The other burglary relates to retail and industrial burglaries and has seen an increase from 179 to 194, an increase of 15 offences.”
A total 6085 offences were reported to Hobsons Bay police, up 13.1 per cent from the 5378 reported the previous year.
