By Eleanor Wilson
A rise in theft, assault and criminal damage culminated in a 5.4 per cent spike in criminal offences in Casey last year, according to fresh data released by the Crime Statistics Agency.
The jump follows a 14.7 per cent reduction in crime in the municipality in 2021, but overall offences in Casey were at the second lowest rate since 2013.
Breaching a family violence order, theft, stealing from a motor vehicle and criminal damage topped the municipality for types of offences last year.
Reported offences rose more than 22 per cent in Narre Warren, 11 per cent in Hampton Park and more than 26 per cent in Clyde North.
Cranbourne, which has the highest offence rate in Casey, recorded 42 more offences in 2022 compared to the previous year, representing a one per ncent increase.
Concerningly, cases of assault, stalking and harrassment were at the highest rate in at least 10 years, with recorded assaults growing nine per cent since last year.
There were 188 more cases of property damage compared with 2021, while theft increased by six per cent.
Family violence offences in Casey were 1.6 per cent higher than 2021 figures, but sat slightly under the Victorian average.
The most common victims of family violence in Casey were women aged between 25 and 34.
But overall, Casey’s offence rate per 100,000 of the population was over 30 per cent lower than the statewide average and remained significantly lower than the average for Southern Metropolitan Melbourne.
Sexual offences in Casey were at the lowest rate since 2016, dropping seven per cent on 2021 figures.
Drug offences also took a dip, sitting at the lowest rate since 2013 with reductions in dealing, trafficking, use and possession, although drug cultivation and manufacturing were up 31 per cent.
Dangerous driving in Casey was down 17 per cent – an anomaly for the state – which saw a 20 per cent increase since 2021.
Police say the increase comes down to a “proactive focus on road safety”, such as the anti-hoon Operation Achilles.
Since 2021, the police operation had charged more than 360 hoon drivers with almost 3000 offences and impounded 375 vehicles.
It’s led to a 75 per cent drop in organised hoon meets, according to police intelligence.
Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said crime across the state has “not dramatically ‘snapped back’ to pre-Covid levels”.
“While criminal offending increased slightly from 2021, it is very pleasing that overall crime is still almost 10 per cent below pre-pandemic levels,” he said.
“There’s been some really encouraging results, with fewer robberies, family violence serious assaults, sexual offences against children, and thefts from motor vehicles in 2022 than in the previous year.”
But there remains “a few key areas of concern” for police, including offenders sneaking into homes to steal car keys and overall youth offending.
“The community can rest assured we are investing significant energy and resources towards preventing and responding to this offending, with dedicated operations in place that have led to thousands of arrests over the past year.
“While we’re doing everything, we can to keep Victoria safe, we also encourage the community to ensure their homes and vehicles are locked to help prevent opportunistic offending.
“Over the coming year, police will continue to focus on proactive prevention and enforcement to ensure that the community is not only safe, but also feels safe in their homes, in public and on the roads.”
