By NATALIE GALLENTI
MELTON has seen a sudden drop in crime against property according to the latest Victoria Police crime statistics.
The data, released last week, reveals crime against property has decreased by 9.8 per cent, from 5937 in July 2011 to June 2012 to 5355 in July 2012 to June 2013.
Melton Police Inspector Stephen Mutton said the results were “pleasing”.
“Over the past 12 months we are still experiencing increases in various crime categories but pleasingly, we have seen a significant reduction in robberies, thefts from motor vehicles (-19.1 per cent) and house burglaries (-14 per cent) throughout the Melton Police Service Area,” Insp Mutton said.
Insp Mutton sited the introduction of a specialised burglary unit with the Melton Criminal Investigations Unit as one of the reasons residential burglaries have decreased.
“But we are still experiencing a rise in “other” burglary categories (22.2 per cent) such as commercial/shop premises, garages/sheds, and new houses under construction where thieves are stealing white goods, bathrooms and laundry fittings, copper piping and building materials.”
He encouraged tradesman and the community to secure their premises and report any suspicious behaviour.
Insp Mutton said, despite the pleasing result, “complacency” continued to make it easy for thieves to access vehicles and property.
The statistics revealed a disturbing increase in crime against the person with a whopping 12.4 per cent surge from 1268 to 1425.
Assaults, including family violence, were up by 8.2 per cent. Alarmingly, almost 500 reports of family violence were made to police in the past year.
“The Melton Family Violence Unit is working to assist victims and ensure appropriate referrals and assistance has been implemented. Violence in the home is a crime and is a priority for Victoria Police.”
Insp Mutton said a safety committee that meet on a monthly basis have established high risk locations within the municipality including Woodgrove Shopping Centre and the Melton Railway Station.
Police are working with the council and other partners to create a safer environment, he said.
“A specialised tasking unit targeting recidivist crime offenders and drug dealers has also been implemented with the Melton PSA and they have already executed a number of search warrants and made crucial arrests.”
