UPDATE: Casey is experiencing an alarming surge in crime, with 29,858 offences recorded in the past year—an astonishing 20.5% increase compared to the prior year. The latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) reveal a troubling trend that has left residents and authorities on high alert.
Cranbourne leads the statistics with 4,144 offences, followed closely by Narre Warren at 3,600 and Berwick at 3,108. Aggravated home burglaries have skyrocketed by 40%, totaling 592 incidents in Casey. Family violence has also seen a significant rise, increasing by 13.6% to 6,518 incidents, which includes 3,574 breaches of family violence orders.
The surge in crime doesn’t stop there. Stealing from motor vehicles has jumped by 29% with 4,353 offences recorded, while other thefts increased by 15% and criminal damage rose by 18%. Notably, motor vehicle thefts have surged by a staggering 54%, with 1,923 cases reported.
Authorities warn that tech-savvy criminals are largely responsible for this uptick, targeting car keys during home burglaries, as well as number plates which account for nearly 40% of all theft from motor vehicle offences in Melbourne.
For context, crime is evident in various locations within Casey: homes account for 12,054 offences, while streets and lanes saw 3,741, and shopping complexes and service stations reported 1,157 and 1,074 incidents, respectively.
Despite these alarming statistics, some anticipated good news as Premier Jacinta Allan recently enacted measures to combat crime, including banning machetes and introducing the country’s toughest bail laws. However, knife crime continues to pose a significant threat, with prohibited and controlled weapons offences rising to 11,075. By the end of August, police seized nearly 11,000 edged weapons in the past year.
Children are increasingly involved in these offences, with 1,326 offenders aged 18-24 and 1,310 between 10-17. While children account for only 12.8% of all offenders, they are overrepresented in serious crimes such as robberies and aggravated burglaries.
The CSA has introduced bail statistics for the first time, showing an 18.4% increase in bail applications over the past year, driven by rising bail refusals and revocations. Unsentenced receptions to Youth Justice have also increased by 35% in the last 12 months.
Bob Hill, Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “as a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalized and accepted.” He reassured the public that police are committed to making arrests and holding offenders accountable, while also seeking new strategies to deter repeat offenders.
To prevent further crime, police recommend community members take simple safety measures, such as locking doors and considering anti-theft devices for vehicles. Victoria Police aims to reduce serious and violent crime by 5% each year, a challenging goal but one they are committed to achieving for the safety of the community.
This developing story underscores the urgent need for increased public safety measures and community awareness as Casey grapples with a crime wave that has far-reaching implications for its residents.
