CRIMINAL INCIDENTS in Victoria to September 30, is up 15 per cent according to the latest crime statistics released yesterday with family incidents up 9.5 per cent from 93,232 to 102,082.
“Family incidents have reached their highest levels ever in Victoria, exceeding 100,000 in a year for the first time. There have been increases in incidents involving serious assaults, particularly aggravated assaults against females and threats of serious injury,” CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said.
“Aggravated assaults on females frequently coincided with breaches of family violence orders, criminal damage, and common assault, contributing to the overall increase in family incident-related offences.”
According to the reports, 431,683 incidents were reported to police in the year to September 30 up from 375,460 in 2013.
This year has seen a spike in property and deception offences, up 19.23 per cent (2023: 278,746).
In Bass Coast, the total offence count is up 17.1 per cent. The top five offences in order were: breaches of family violence orders (645 breaches up 46 per cent), criminal damage (336), other theft (235), steal from motor vehicle (172) and family violence common assault (168 – up 12 per cent)
Residential aggravated burglary rose 104 per cent, with 43 offences recorded this year, up from 21 last year, whilst residential non-aggravated dropped 5.4 per cent, alongside non-residential non-aggravated by 25 per cent.
Theft has jumped up with motor vehicles rising from 73 stolen last year to 116 this year (58.9 per cent) and stealing from a motor vehicle rising by 22.8 per cent.
Crime statistics also show a jump in drug trafficking in Bass Coast rising 175 per cent from eight recorded offences last year to 22 this year.
There were also four explosive offences recorded this year (up from one offence in 2023).
In the justice procedure offences, there were 645 breaches of family violence orders (up 46 per cent), whilst intervention order breaches rose 97.4 per cent (77 offences).
Aggravated robbery against a person is up 140 per cent (12 offences from five offences) with non-aggravated robbery sitting at 200 per cent increase (six offences this year from two last year).
Family violence serious assault increased by 15 per cent, whilst assault against police, emergency services or other authorised officers is up 10 per cent from 15 offences to 30 this year. Arson is also up 58.3 per cent this year.
There were four aggravated robberies against the person, the same as September 30, 2023.
This year also saw the greatest number of offenders in Bass Coast in the 10-17 years of age category jumping to 217 offenders this year. A 145.6 per cent increase from five years ago when a low of 88 was recorded.
Offenders aged 18-24 jumped 81.6 per cent from last year to 225.
Over in South Gippsland, the rise in crime is less significant up 10.1 per cent year on year (to September 30).
There was a huge rise in residential aggravated burglaries this year up 1400 per cent with 15 offences recorded against one last year, with one non-residential aggravated burglary this year. Residential non-aggravated burglary dropped 8.5 per cent decreasing to 86 offences this year.
The top five offences in South Gippsland in order were breach family violence order (391), criminal damage (195), other theft (172), breach bail conditions (157) and obtain benefit by deception.
Motor vehicle theft and steal from motor vehicle both rose 71.4 per cent and 59.5 per cent respectively with 108 vehicles stolen to September 30, 2024, and 118 thefts from motor vehicles.
One of the largest jumps in criminal activity in South Gippsland was obtain benefit by deception which rose 214 per cent this year.
Six offences were recorded for cultivate or manufacture drugs.
There were significantly less breaches of justice procedures in South Gippsland compared to Bass Coast with family violence order breaches rising 1.8 per cent to 391, whilst intervention order breaches rose 34 per cent to 51 offences. Bail condition breaches decreased by 21 per cent.
There were 13 more alleged offender incidents for those aged 10-17 years of age (128) with the category for 18-24 years rising from 96 to 121. Offenders aged 30-34 dropped from 108 (2023) to 89 this year.
Top suburbs for criminal incidents
Bass Coast
Wonthaggi (1086)
Cowes (651)
North Wonthaggi (323)
Inverloch (267)
San Remo (159)
South Gippsland
Leongatha (721)
Korumburra (596)
Nyora (161)
Foster (141)
Mirboo North (99)
