By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM is fast becoming the burglary capital of the West, according to new statistics released by Victoria Police.
The figures show that over the last year residential burglaries have skyrocketed, rising by 29.8 per cent.
Outgoing Inspector Bill Weatherly said police were working hard to try and put a halt to the crime.
“Population growth brings with it a variety of challenges for local police and in the Wyndham Police Service Area the challenges centre around crime especially residential burglary, theft from motor car and property damage,” he said.
“These three crime categories are strategic priorities for Wyndham police.
“The burglary unit continues to make many good arrests and on the proactive side continues to hold quarterly meeting with the local developers, and several positive initiatives have already been put into place around security at estates under construction.”
Total crime rose by 15.4 per cent while robberies and drug offences rose by 34.6 per cent and 24.4 per cent respectively.
The only significant decline was in the area of assaults excluding family violence, which fell by 15.1 per cent.
Inspector Weatherly said property damage, which rose by 14.6 per cent would continue to be targeted by police in the future.
“Property damage especially graffiti is a real concern to me,” Inspector Weatherly said.
“In 2011 one offender was charged with 56 counts of property damage relating to graffiti.
“Recent local media articles are sending out a message that there is a zero tolerance to graffiti and several local police operations are underway to stamp out this offence.”
