Crime Statistics Agency data shows huge rise in teens breaking into homes

Aggravated burglaries committed by young thugs has surged by almost 1000 per cent in Victoria in the past decade, prompting calls for urgent action.

Teen criminals are breaking into 10 times more homes than when Labor came to power, amid an explosion in youth crime.

New data from the Crime Statistics Agency, obtained by the state opposition, shows the number of residential aggravated burglaries committed by offenders 10 to 17 years old has surged almost 1000 per cent from 119 in 2015 to 1230 in the latest financial year.

It means teens are now breaking into a home on average three times a day, compared with once every three days a decade ago.

And it includes hundreds of offences by children aged 12 to 14 over the past 12 months.

The number of residential aggravated burglaries committed by young offenders has surged. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Teens are now breaking into a home on average three times a day. Picture: Victoria Police

Dozens of them would have faced no consequences before the Allan government backflipped on plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

The government was forced to walk back major reforms to the youth justice system amid growing community anger over the youth crime epidemic which has claimed the lives of three innocent men this year – Davide Pollina,Will Taylor and Ash Gordon – and left countless other victims terrorised.

Instead the age will be raised from 10 to 12 as part of revised changes to the youth justice system which have now passed parliament.

Under the reforms, warnings, cautions and early diversion will encourage police to avoid charging children.

The Allan government backflipped on plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14. Picture: David Crosling

Instead the age will be raised from 10 to 12.

Electronic monitoring will also be legislated as an optional bail condition for children.

And the doli incapax principle – that dictates the presumption that a child aged 10 to 14 is incapable of criminal intent – will be legislated.

Shadow Minister for Police, Brad Battin, said the alarming new data represented a real risk to the community.

He said urgent action was needed to address the root causes of the crime crisis.

“The alarming rise in aggravated burglaries by youth offenders highlights a critical issue that requires immediate attention,” he said.

“We must prioritise community safety solutions that protect all Victorians.

“Under the Allan Labor government, crime prevention programs have been cut, bail laws weakened, and police stations closed, amounting to more victims of violent crime across the state.

There are calls for urgent action to address the root causes of the crime crisis. Picture: Thinkstock

“The increase in aggravated burglaries by young offenders is a result of the Allan Labor government continuing to deny the issue and decision to cut the services that prevent crimes, all because they cannot manage money, cannot manage our justice system and now Victorians are paying the price.”

Last month the Herald Sun revealed a 12-year-old girl was among the state’s top- 20 young offenders after she was implicated in 10 aggravated burglaries in which cars were stolen over a 12-month period to the end of July.

The recidivist had been arrested on 10 separate occasions while another 17-year-old female had been involved in 11 similar aggravated burglaries.

A government spokeswoman said new laws would make it harder for teens charged with serious crimes including aggravated burglary or robbery, dangerous driving, carjacking or home invasion to secure bail.

They would also creates a new separate offence for committing a serious crime – including aggravated burglary and carjacking – while on bail.

“Everyone should feel safe in their own home. Anyone who even attempts to break into someone’s home can expect police to come after them,” she said.