280 offences per month: Bundaberg’s most dangerous streets revealed

New data shows crime is increasing in Bundaberg as police reveal how they’re using the latest information to curb offending in the region’s streets. SEE HOW YOUR STREET RATES.

The Bundaberg Safe Night Precinct and shopping centres are the major crime hotspots in Bundaberg.

New Queensland Police data has revealed there have been more than 1700 offences recorded in Bundaberg in the past six months, an alarming 283 offences per month.

Other thefts (581 offences) was the most common crime, followed by drug offences (222) and other property damage (160).

Assaults are the seventh most common crimes in the region, with 128 offences recorded.

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There were 31 weapons act offences recorded, and one homicide.

Offending has peaked in recent months, with 685 offences recorded in May and 504 in June.

The most common time of the day for offenders to be busted in the past six months was midnight, with 254 offences recorded, while Friday was the day when most offences occurred overall.

The Safe Night Precinct along Bourbong St between Barolin and Walla Streets was a major crime hotspot with 212 offences.

Clusters of offences were also recorded at Bundaberg’s shopping centres with 145 offences recorded at Hinkler Central and 77 at Sugarland Plaza.

Outside of the CBD and shopping precincts, George Street between Burrum and Branyan Streets in Bundaberg West is the most dangerous suburban street with 14 offences in the past six months.

A range of offences were recorded for this inner-city street including property damage (2), unlawful use of motor vehicle (2), unlawful entry (2) and assault (2).

Other clusters of crime were recorded at Greenwood St, Kepnock (10), Thomas Thomsen Drive, Thabeban (7), San Vito Court, Norville (7) and Megan Crescent, Qunaba (6).

Bundaberg Police Station officer in charge Acting Senior Sergeant Matthew Swan said Bundaberg is different to other towns in that crime occurs across a wide swath of the town.

“A lot of other places that I’ve previously worked around the state, they can have suburbs that are really bad or worse than others,” Sergeant Swan said.

“Whereas here when it comes to property offences, break-ins, unlawful use of motor vehicles, crime is spread between Bargara to the major suburbs around Bundaberg.”

Acting Senior Sergeant Matthew Swan said Bundaberg Police proactively deploys officers to crime hot spots to prevent and disrupt crime.

In addition to reacting to crime that is reported to police, Bundaberg Police use the online crime map to proactively deploy officers to crime hot spots to prevent crime before it occurs.

“We use the same online crime map to funnel the staff to those areas,” Sergeant Swan said.

“Prevention and disruption are two key approaches. We are preventing offences using the high visibility, proactive enforcement and engagement with business owners, as well as stopping and speaking to untoward members of the public, but also that disruption in following up on offences, thoroughly investigating them and commencing proceedings against offenders.”

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Other approaches to crime prevention include communication through the Crime Prevention Office to encourage the public to be vigilant in securing their possessions to avoid presenting opportunities to thieves.

“We use communication through our Crime Prevention Office to remind members of the community to be vigilant and be protect their property by taking some simple steps – lock the door, hide the keys, don’t leave your wallet in plain sight in the car. You can’t have your wallet stolen if it’s in your pocket.”