Theft and burglaries reach record numbers across Victoria

Theft and burglaries are on the rise in Victoria new data has revealed. Check to see if your suburb is among the worst spots for these types of crime.

Casey is the No.1 hotspot outside the City of Melbourne for thefts, new data reveals, with thefts and and burglaries skyrocketing to a five-year high across the state.

New data released last month by the Crime Statistics Agency revealed a 17 per cent rise in theft and a 14 per cent increase in burglaries across the state.

Victoria also recorded its highest property and deception related offences since 2017, with nearly 300,000 offences recorded in the past year.

Property and deception offences include arson, property damage, burglary, theft and deception.

The municipalities with the most theft recorded in the past year included City of Melbourne, Casey, Greater Geelong, Wyndham, Greater Dandenong, Hume and Brimbank.

Cost of living pressures are believed to be a factor in this crime increase.

Theft and burglaries have surged across the state according to new data.

The amount of theft recorded increased by more than 26,000 offences in the last 12 months, with nearly a third of incidents involving stealing motor vehicles.

Among the municipalities hit hardest by this wave include Casey in Melbourne’s southeast which — after the City of Melbourne — recorded the most offences for theft in the state.

Theft incidents rose from 6719 to more than 8,200 this year, with the area also recording a six year high for burglaries and break-ins.

More than 1700 burglaries were reported to police in Casey over the last year, with most of these coming out of Berwick while Narre Warren recorded the most theft.

Overall more than 12,900 property and deception offences were recorded in Casey — the second most in Victoria.

Nearby LGA Greater Dandenong recorded a 20 per cent spike in theft, with more than 6845 offences recorded in the last year.

Likewise Frankston saw more than 1000 additional reports of theft in the last year, with burglaries also reaching a six year high in the area.

Municipalities in Melbourne’s north including Brimbank and Darebin also recorded a five year high for theft.

Northern suburbs Preston (28 per cent) and Reservoir (24 per cent) experienced some of the biggest increases in theft related crime.

Wyndham in Melbourne’s west saw a near 10 per cent increase in theft from last year, with most of these occuring across Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Tarneit.

More than 70 arson attacks have also been recorded in Wyndham in the last 12 months.

The City of Whitehorse in Melbourne’s east — which encompasses suburbs like Box Hill and Balwyn North — recorded its highest property related offences in the last decade.

General theft in the area increased by 26 per cent, with burglaries in Whitehorse also reaching a ten year high.

Theft in Box Hill rose by 24 per cent, with this year’s figure being the highest recorded in the bustling north-east suburb in more than 10 years.

The City of Monash was also among the municipalities that saw a 10-year high for these offences, with nearly 1000 more property and deception crimes recorded this year in comparison to 2023.

Several regional cities have also seen record numbers of theft and burglaries in the last year.

Ballarat recorded more than 1000 burglaries and break ins for the first time since 2018, while the amount of thefts surpassed 4600 for the first time in a decade.

Greater Bendigo has also seen a slight increase in theft, while Geelong saw a 12 per cent theft increase.

Neighbourhood Watch chief executive Bambi Gordon. Picture: Supplied

Neighbourhood Watch chief executive Bambi Gordon said residents needed to “shift their attitude” when it came to protecting their homes, including keeping keys “out of site” and doors locked at all times.

“Crooks are lazy, they want to get in and out easily,” she said.

“If they think there’s a reward like the car’s been left open they’ll go for it but if we take action they’ll go elsewhere.

“It’s as simple as lock up. If you can get your car in the garage rather than leaving it out on the street then that could save you ... but have your property locked even when you’re at home”.