Crime statistics reveal youth gang trouble in the southeast
Crime, particularly youth crime, has surged in Melbourne’s south with spikes in Casey, Cardinia and Kingston, new data reveals. Here’s a look at the hot spots, the numbers and the types of crimes wreaking havoc in your suburbs.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Pakenham is bearing the brunt of a surge in youth crime in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, averaging just over eight incidents every day last year.
More than half of all crimes recorded in Cardinia for the year ending September 30 happened in the suburb, according to new figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency.
Across Casey and Cardinia the crime rate is rising, with both areas recording an almost 11 per cent spike compared to the previous year.
Pakenham alone suffered a 10.9 per cent rise in criminal activity – 2715 reported incidents.
Police laid charges for 33 per cent of crimes in Cardinia, while 49 per cent of investigations were unsolved and 18 per cent had no charges laid.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said police had launched Operation Tidal in the southern metropolitan region in April because of the crime spike, in particular robbery.
“Operation Tidal out in the southern metro region has had outstanding results,” he said.
“Over 700 arrests have been made out there.”
However, DC Patton said the rates of youth crime were “very concerning” to police.
“Yes, we are finding the youth of today are being more brazen, and are doing things we hadn’t seen 10 years ago,” he said.
“We are seeing a lot of the robbery offences out in the southern metropolitan area, in Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia.
“There are some people, we have some members involved in low key gang groups, who hang around together, some of them are involved in these offences.”
Kingston’s reported crime jumped 8.2 per cent, with shop theft a top offence.
“Shop stealing is up and we see that through the increased enforcement in the shops,” DC Patton said.
“That’s a positive to be able to identify and deal with that.”
The news was better for Port Phillip and Frankston, with both areas seeing a slight decrease in crime.
Theft from motor vehicles was the most common offence in southeastern municipalities, with every area except Port Phillip recording an increase in the crime.
MORE:
ELDERLY MAN BRUTALLY BASHED TRYING TO SAVE BELOVED DOG
MELBOURNE SUBURBS WHERE KIDS ARE RESCUED FROM LOCKED CARS
BURGLARY HOT SPOTS IN SOUTHEAST SUBURBS
CRIMINAL INCIDENTS
CARDINIA – 10.9 per cent increase
Total
2019 – 4891
2018 – 4411
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 522
Criminal damage – 491
Other theft – 490
Breach family violence order – 346
Residential non-aggravated burglary – 301
Worst Suburbs
Pakenham 2715
Officer 575
Beaconsfield 305
Emerald 190
Koo Wee Rup 181
CASEY – 10.8 per cent increase
Total
2019 – 16,779
2018 – 15,144
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 2779
Other theft – 1423
Criminal damage – 1302
Breach family violence order – 1022
FV common assault – 924
Worst Suburbs
Narre Warren 2394
Cranbourne 2258
Berwick 1831
Hampton Park 1333
Narre Warren South 1011
GLEN EIRA – 9.7 per cent increase
Total
2019 – 5454
2018 – 4972
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 1168
Residential non-aggravated burglary – 509
Other theft – 442
Criminal damage – 425
Obtain benefit by deception – 359
Worst Suburbs
Bentleigh East 963
Bentleigh 794
Carnegie 612
Caulfield North 577
Elsternwick 483
KINGSTON – 8.2 per cent increase
Total
2019 – 8894
2018 – 8220
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 1552
Other theft – 814
Steal from retail store – 589
Criminal damage – 576
Obtain benefit by deception – 480
Worst Suburbs
Cheltenham 1506
Moorabbin 964
Mentone 619
Clayton South 588
Mordialloc 579
GREATER DANDENONG – 5.5 per cent increase
Total
2019 – 14,696
2018 – 13,933
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 2142
Other theft – 1202
Criminal damage – 1169
Obtain benefit by deception – 862
Breach bail conditions – 791
Worst Suburbs
Dandenong 6087
Noble Park 2094
Springvale 2038
Keysborough 1516
Dandenong North 1097
BAYSIDE – 2.9 per cent increase
Total
2019 – 3926
2018 – 3815
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 950
Residential non-aggravated burglary – 420
Criminal damage – 278
Other theft – 268
Obtain benefit by deception – 226
Worst Suburbs
Brighton 928
Hampton 610
Brighton East 461
Highett 439
Sandringham 434
FRANKSTON – 1.1 per cent decrease
Total
2019 – 10,977
2018 – 11,095
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 1597
Other theft – 908
Breach bail conditions – 905
Criminal damage – 882
Breach family violence order – 622
Worst Suburbs
Frankston 5659
Seaford 1592
Carrum Downs 1377
Langwarrin 777
Frankston North 645
PORT PHILLIP – 2.4 per cent decrease
Total
2019 – 9700
2018 – 9937
Top Five Offences
Steal from a motor vehicle – 1647
Other theft – 1006
Obtain benefit by deception – 666
Criminal damage – 655
Residential non-aggravated burglary – 524
Worst Suburbs
St Kilda 3344
South Melbourne 1772
Port Melbourne 1382
Elwood 676
Albert Park 516