By Kate Bonsack
CRIME has soared by 12.5 per cent during the past year in Hobsons Bay.
Theft from motor vehicles was one of the main drivers, increasing by 55 per cent over the past year.
It was one of a number of key crime categories that experienced significant rises.
Robberies in Hobsons Bay were up 28 per cent while liquor licensing and alcohol-related crimes increased by 28 per cent.
The number of people charged with handling stolen good increased by 41 per cent, while police recorded a 34.8 per cent rise in drug cultivation and trafficking offences.
Residential burglaries in the municipality increased by three per cent.
Victoria Police released the 2007-2008 crime statistics yesterday. It showed Hobsons Bay had the highest crime increase in the five western municipalities of Wyndham, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Melton and Maribyrnong.
Hobsons Bay Detective Senior Sergeant Kieran Maloney said the major concern was thefts from vehicles, which was a reminder to the public to protect their valuables.
“This is an opportunistic type of crime,” he said.
“Often the locks on cars are manipulated by the offender or they smash a window. We’ve run a number of operations, both covertly and overtly, targeting theft from motor vehicles with success.
“As recently as last week police charged a 30-year-old Williamstown man with seven thefts from motor vehicles and five attempted thefts.”
Det Sen Sgt Maloney said thefts of GPS devices were among the most common, and thefts often occurred at railway stations, shopping centres and in residential streets.
“We also encourage the public to use one-way screws to fasten their number plates, as these are also often stolen,” he said.
“In the near future we will have a new community initiative unveiled in relation to this.”
Det Sen Sgt Maloney said the increase in drug detection was a positive from a policing perspective.
“It’s a negative that there are drugs in the community, but a positive that we are having success in relation to detecting, arresting and charging mid and street-level traffickers of drugs,” he said.
