By Holly McGuinness
Expanded community programs and police presence have helped lower Brimbank’s crime rate, police say.
Police held a crime review in Brimbank and Melton in June, which found there had been a 11.8 per cent decrease in offences.
Sunshine acting senior sergeant Lauren Williams said police were not sure what to expect when COVID restrictions were eased in Victoria, but were happy with these results.
She said programs such as Coffee with a Cop at Watergardens, Brimbank and Cairnlea Shopping Centres had helped reduce offending.
While the overall crime rate is falling, police said thefts, particularly of motor vehicles, were still being widely reported.
Police urged people to secure vehicles overnight, particularly tradesmen who store work tools in their vehicles.
Acting senior sergeant Lauren Williams said installing security cameras was also a good idea.
“Not only do they act as a deterrent, these are invaluable in the detection and investigation of offences that may have been committed in the area,”she said.
