Hume postcode named burglary hot spot

Residents in this Hume postcode have a one-in-30 chance of being burgled, a new RACV analysis of police statistics shows.

Residents in a Hume postcode have a one-in-30 chance of being burgled, a new RACV analysis of police statistics shows.

Postcode 3047, which includes Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana, recorded the second worst burglary rate in metropolitan Melbourne during the 2017/18 year.

The area with the highest burglary rate in metropolitan Melbourne was southeastern postcode 3978, which includes Cardinia, Clyde and Clyde North, with residents having a one-in-27 change of being burgled.

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Another hot spot was Diggers Rest (one in 31).

But the steep burglary rate in these suburbs — compared with the state average of one in 76 homes burgled — could be skewed by their high rate of new housing construction, where new appliances and fixtures in empty homes are targets for thieves.

Victoria’s top postcode for burglaries was 3629 — encompassing Ardmona, Coomboona, Mooroopna, Mooroopna North — just west of Shepparton, with a burglary rate of one in 23 homes.

The “safest” suburbs in greater Melbourne, according to the RACV analysis, were Heatherton (one in 228 homes burglary rate), Croydon (one in 208) and Bayles/Catani/Koo Wee Rup (one in 201).

Police data shows the crime rates are at their lowest in five years, non-aggravated burglary is down 17 per cent since 2017 and aggravated burglary down 10 per cent.

Victoria Police Superintendent Peter Greaney said in recent years the force had focused on reducing burglaries at both a strategic and a local level.

“In an effort to address burglaries in the area, local police have deployed additional patrols to known hot spots and are targeting repeat offenders,” Supt Greaney said.

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RACV home program manager Bess Nolan-Cook said respondents’ biggest concerns were people using or dealing drugs in their area, closely followed by vandalism, graffiti or deliberate damage to property.

VICTORIA POLICE TOP TIPS TO PREVENT BURGLARIES

■ Install good quality locks on doors and windows. Alarms are also a good deterrent.

■ Lock all windows and doors — unlocked side and rear doors are the most common entry points for burglars.

■ Remove valuable items from plain sight — particularly car keys, wallets and cash.

■ Make your house look occupied at all times. For example, ask a neighbour to bring in your mail and bins if you’re away for a while and organise to have your lawns mowed.

■ Report suspicious behaviour to police immediately via triple-0 (000).

■ Check out Victoria Police’s Help Yourself! website for more handy hints

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