Brimbank has notched up the third highest rate of property damage offences in Melbourne’s north west.
The Crime Statistics Agency’s latest figures for the 12 months to March 31 reveal the north west metro region has consistently had the highest number of property damage offences across the state.
The local government areas in the north west with the greatest number of offences were Melbourne (1770), Hume (1689) and Brimbank (1517).
Almost half of all property damage offences occurred at a residential address and one in three were at a community location.
Across the state, police recorded more than 43,600 property damage offences in the 12 month period. More than 60 per cent of cases remain unsolved.
In Brimbank, assault and related offences were also up, from 1340 in the previous 12 months to 1462 to March 31 this year.
Arson offences in Brimbank have almost doubled, from 77 to 152.
Theft is up by about 11 per cent.
Detective Senior Sergeant Matthew Baynes from the Brimbank CIU, said over the past four years, the number of offences are on the decline.
“We’re one of the very few areas to have witnessed a reduction over the four-year period,” he said.
“Statistically, it’s a far safer place [Brimbank] than it has been.”
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