By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM is proving to be a safer place to live with total crime falling by 2.4 per cent over the last year.
As the municipality’s population continued to grow, the number of crimes per 100,000 people fell from 7162 in April to March last year to 6991 this year.
The raw figures showed a drop of 28.4 per cent in the number of robberies reported and a drop of 22.2 per cent in the number of burglaries other than residential.
Assaults rose by 9.6 per cent while theft from motor vehicles rose by 17.6 per cent.
Assaults excluding family violence, property damage, residential burglaries, and crimes against property all fell by up to 8.9 per cent.
Wyndham Police Inspector, Damien Christensen told Star the Werribee police station was processing 208 offenders every month.
At both the Werribee and Wyndham North police stations combined, about nine offenders a day were being apprehended and processed.
“We’ve had a change in tact over the last six months and I’m really happy with the results we’re seeing,” Insp Christensen said.
“I think next quarter will look better again.”
Inspector Christensen said last year Wyndham was experiencing 200 burglaries a month and this number had now fallen to 110 a month.
“Many of our policing successes rely on assistance from the community,” he said.
“We need the community to communicate information to us to help us gather intelligence in order to detect crime more expediently.
“We’re slowly getting that message out there.”
Any residents that witness or have any information about criminal activity should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Meanwhile, residents will receive some expert tips on how to keep themselves and their property safe later this month thanks to a new community initiative.
The Manor Lakes Residents Association will be hosting a community safety forum, where a highly experienced police officer will share his personal tips for safety.
Senior Sergeant Craig McDonald, the Crime Prevention Officer for the North West Metro Division 2, said residents will hear what they can do by themselves to make their homes and cars less likely to be targets of theft.
“After 25 years in the job I know how many victims unknowingly contribute to their own crimes,” Sen Sgt McDonald said.
“What I want to see is when people leave their homes for the day they bring it up to a standard that I would be happy with as a police officer.”
Wyndham Councillor and former police officer, Peter Gibbons, said the session would be a chance for residents to work with police.
“There are a lot of things we can do together to build on our own strengths,” Cr Gibbons said.
“If each of us can do anything to assist each other in the community, then that is what it is all about.”
The session will be held at the Wyndham Vale Community Learning Centre at 86 Manor Lakes Boulevard in Wyndham Vale on Saturday 15 June from 2 to 4pm.
