Theft and assault are at an all-time high in Greater Geelong, according to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA).
The latest crime statistics for the year ending on March 31 were released on Thursday, June 19, with total offences in Greater Geelong up by 9.8 per cent to 25,356 offences recorded this year.
Victoria Police Western Region Division One Superintendent Michael Reid said theft from and of motor vehicles have increased while assaults were “trending down” despite increased offences over the past year.
“Victoria Police have arrested more offenders this year than ever before in its history of Victoria,” he said.
“We are developing a response to reduce this offending, and it has begun with police increasing intercepts across the region.”
Theft offences rose by 1554 recorded offences to 8581 during the past year, while assaults and related offences increased by 224 to 2205 in 2025, marking the highest number of offences in both categories over nine years.
Local government areas (LGAs) with significant theft increases included Geelong with 270 more offences at 1164 this year, and Norlane with 185 more offences at 694.
Despite recorded theft offences increasing across most LGAs, offences in Belmont decreased from 469 in 2024 to 370 in 2025 and in Geelong West from 403 last year to 322 this year.
Assault and related offences significantly increased by 52 recorded offences in Norlane from 247 last year to 299 this year but decreased in Whittington by 32 offences from 109 last year to 77 this year.
