Victoria’s crime rate highest since 2016

There were 8691.6 offences per 100,000 people, which is the highest crime rate since 2016 when adjusted for population growth.

Campaspe Shire saw an 8.5 per cent jump in total criminal incidents, with 2124 recorded in Echuca, an increase of 291 from 2023.

Kyabram, Rochester and Tongala all saw decreases in criminal incidents in the same period, while Stanhope saw a small increase.

Family incidents increased by 11.3 per cent across the state last year, with 104,786 incidents recorded.

The rate of family incidents also increased, up 8.8 per cent, to 1503.8 incidents per 100,000 Victorians.

According to Victoria Police, four of the five fastest growing crimes in the state were different types of theft, including from motor vehicles and retail stores.

CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said the rate of theft offences being recorded per 100,000 Victorians had exceeded historical peaks.

“These increasingly prevalent theft offences can be opportunistic in nature and may be linked to cost-of-living pressures, especially for increases in shoplifting where increases are linked to adult offenders often in their 30s,” she said.

“Younger alleged offenders tend to be involved in theft offences involving motor vehicles.”

The top principal offence in Campaspe last year was steal from motor vehicle, with 334 criminal incidents recorded, an increase of 91 compared to 2023.

There were 214 criminal incidents of steal from retail store and 280 of other theft, which includes stealing petrol and opportunistic thefts, a combined increase of 116 incidents locally.

Deputy commissioner of regional operations Bob Hill said the overall crime rates in Victoria were totally unacceptable, and police were working harder than ever.

“Last year, our hard-working officers made the most arrests since electronic records commenced in 1993, with more than 73,500 arrests in total or the equivalent of 201 per day,” he said.

“Despite this, crime continues to rise due to a range of complex issues impacting our state.”

State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said Victoria was on a path to anarchy, and recent alleged crimes in Echuca had seen locals take vigilante action.

“People only take the law into their own hands because the law is failing them — over and over,” he said.

“Now there is a genuine danger something is going to go terribly wrong when an innocent business owner, or homeowner, fights back because the system is not doing its job.

“Many would not condone vigilantism, but I can totally understand it. Being violated in your business or your home is shocking.”

Positively, Gannawarra saw a 15.9 per cent decrease in total criminal incidents, with Kerang in particular seeing a significant reduction in crime.