Emily Chapman Laing
Crime statistics from Casey’s lower population areas shows criminal offences, particularly theft, have largely declined over the past 12 months.
While Casey as a whole showed a steep rise in unlawful behaviour over the past year, many suburbs saw a drop.
Suburbs reporting a decline in criminal offences since March 2022 include Tooradin (down 20.9 per cent), Blind Bight (44.4 per cent), Warneet (116 per cent) and Devon Meadows (2 per cent).
Suburbs showing an increase over the past 12 months include Pearcedale (up 29.4 per cent), Cannons Creek (53.3 per cent) and Botanic Ridge (50.4 per cent).
Cannons Creek, Botanic Ridge and Tooradin have increased in incidents of criminal activity compared to pre-covid levels, rising 53.3 per cent, 82.3 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively.
Other areas were below pre-covid 2018 levels as well, such as Blind Bight (down 360 per cent), Pearcedale (18.1 per cent) and Devon Meadows (44.4 per cent).
Burglaries were up 50 per cent in Cannons Creek, 62.5 per cent in Devon Meadows and 40 per cent in Botanic Ridge, while they remained the same in Blind Bight and had none reported for the year in Warneet.
Assaults were up by 100 per cent in Warneet, 500 per cent in Cannons Creek and 25 per cent in Devon Meadows.
They were down by 40 per cent in Tooradin, 85.7 per cent in Blind Bight, 20 per cent in Pearcedale and 18.7 per cent in Botanic Ridge.
Thefts were down in all suburbs excepting Tooradin, which saw an increase of 42 per cent.
