Greater Geelong’s property and deception offences have risen to the highest number of incidents in seven years, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) figures.
CSA’s crime statistics for the year ending December 2024 were released on Thursday, March 20, which recorded 11,054 property and deception offences in Greater Geelong, the highest since 2017 with 11,388 incidents.
Victoria Police Western Region Division One Superintendent Michael Reid told the Independent that crime incidents had “gone up by 11 per cent” from 16,670 in 2023 to 18,509 in 2024 in the Greater Geelong area.
“We want people to feel safe not only in their homes but as they go about their normal activity in the broader community,” he said.
“Over the last six to eight months… we’re seeing offending occurring by people who wouldn’t ordinarily come under police attention.
“Shop stealing is something that we’ve seen an increase in, and we contributed that to the cost of living, as well as theft of petrol… with a lot of incidents being opportunistic.
“When we see a higher volume (of crime) in any areas, we do have plans in place to reduce that, and we do see a reduction, (but) it is a little bit like following the bouncing ball.
“We reduce crime in those areas, and it dies off or decreases across the Geelong region for a period, but then it will increase at another location, and we’ll just repeat that process.”
Theft incidents recorded highest ever numbers in Geelong (947), Corio (721), Armstrong Creek (224), Lara (416), Charlemont (88), Avalon (82), Mount Duneed (79), Wallington (20), and Anakie (14).
Crimes against the person also exhibited high numbers in the Greater Geelong region, with the total number of incidents recording 482 more offences in 2024 (3178) than the previous year with 2696.
Greater Geelong’s assault and related offences increased by 13 per cent from 1837 incidents in 2023 to 2075, with significant increases in Grovedale by 51 incidents to 132 (63 per cent), Corio by 55 incidents to 262 (26.6 per cent), and Geelong by 31 to 268 (13.1 per cent).
Justice procedures offences showed an overall decrease of 4.8 per cent across the region to 2851 incidents, with breaches of orders down by 219 incidents over 12 months to 2400.
A Neighbourhood Policing Forum will be held at Geelong West Town Hall from 5.30pm on April 2 for the community to talk with police members about topics like crime trends and prevention methods.
The forum will be run by a Victoria Police panel that will welcome questions from the audience throughout the event. Visit eventbrite.com/e/geelong-psa-neighbourhood-policing-forum-tickets-1257710819919 to reserve a free spot.
