The latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) reveal that Victoria’s crime rates have risen to the highest levels on record. This growth can be attributed to a spike in thefts across the state.
Since COVID-19, there’s been a continued rise in criminal incidents and recorded offences in Victoria. There were over 483,000 criminal incidents in the 12 months before June 30, 2025—an 18.3% rise from the same period the previous year.
If you’re looking for tips to protect yourself, this guide is for you. It covers everything you need to know, from updating the locking system on your doors and windows to the importance of getting expert advice from a reputable locksmith from Cranbourne, or an area near you.
Melbourne and rising crime rates
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has declared Melbourne the ‘crime capital of Australia’ as crime rates soar. The increase in criminal incidents has also spread beyond the city’s borders, in areas including:
- Banyule
- Brimbank
- Darebin
- Hobsons Bay
- Maribyrnong
- Melton
- Merri-bek
The above-listed local government areas have all seen a significant year-over-year increase in criminal incidents. While efforts are being undertaken by the government to curb the growing crime rates, it never hurts to take your own safety measures.
Growing youth gang violence
More than half of Victoria’s youth gang violence is being carried out in Melbourne, with over 10 children killed in the past decade. Police estimate that there are close to 350 young gang members operating in the area as of 2023.
The Victoria Police Commander Mark Galliott reported that the north-west region of Melbourne, in particular, was home to the largest population of youth gang offenders. It is a growing issue that contributes to the city’s ongoing crime wave.
Fortunately, the police and government are taking proactive action to curb crime. For example, the Allan Labor Government announced last year the toughest bail laws Australia has seen in Victoria to prevent reoffending and improve community safety.
Top home security tips
There are several steps you can take to keep you and your family safe amid Melbourne’s ongoing crime wave. For example, installing sensor lights and cameras can be a great way not only to stop thieves but also to deter them altogether.
Invest in security cameras
Installing security cameras around your house can be a great way to discourage thieves, especially if they’re in visible areas and out of reach. Installing signs that display cameras are in use on the property can also act as a further deterrent.
Investing in an intercom system can also be a great way to deter potential thieves, screen visitors, and monitor your property. Modern intercom systems, like Ring’s intercom and camera, allow you to remotely access footage and get alerts whenever someone approaches your door.
Protect valuables with a safe
If you have any valuable (or invaluable) items, investing in a safe is a way to add an extra layer of protection. Safes can also be built to do more than deter and stop thieves; there are many that are waterproof and fire-resistant, which can help if you live in an area prone to fires or floods.
If you decide to invest in a safe, make sure that you bolt it to the wall or floor, so that no one can take off with it.
Buy a screen door
Investing in a screen door is a simple and effective way to add another layer of security to your home. It’s also a great way to stop intruders of another kind—insects. So, you can open your door and still enjoy a fresh breeze without letting bugs (or unwanted visitors) in.
Door and window locks
The first step any homeowner (or renter) should take to safeguard their home and valuables is to install locks. Put a lock on any and every potential entrypoint, windows included.
In the 12 months leading up to March 2015, there were over 30,000 recorded residential burglary offences. This is a rate of 520 residential burglary offences per 100,00 people.
Statistics from the Crime Statistics Agency report that the most common method of entry is forcing or breaking open a door. Following that, the second most common point of entry is forcing or breaking open a window.
How the government is tackling crime
The rising crime rates and youth gang violence in particular are complicated issues. While youth crime waves are nothing new, Coronor Ingrid Giles sheds troubling light on the situation, finding that youth gang members were more likely to have experienced family violence.
While Victoria’s rate of youth incarceration is at historically low levels, most of the young people in detention centres are there for violent crimes. Intervention programs, promoting awareness, supporting vulnerable youth, and those from marginalised communities are strategies that may help reduce offending rates.
The government is also implementing stricter consequences across the board for crime, such as the tougher bail laws and the banning of machetes. They have also declared a national crisis on family and gender-based violence across Australia, which contributes to the youth crime problem.
