There was a 30 per cent increase in crime in Ardeer in the past year, crime statistics reveal.
Brimbank’s overall crime rate jumped 9.7 per cent, with a total of 19,028 offences, according to Crime Statistics Agency annual figures to December.
But Sunshine police’s Inspector Dave Byrt said Brimbank was a safer place to live despite the “small spike”.
He pointed to a drop in total crime of more than 2100 recorded offences in the previous year, 2014.
“Brimbank is a safer place than it was three years ago,” he said.
“Crime is trending in the right direction, downwards, and we are focusing very intently on addressing this small spike we’re currently having.”
He said police would focus on vehicle-related crime, residential burglaries and family violence.
“Our taskforces are also working constantly on addressing drugs and weapons offences, with some significant success with drug-related arrests … in recent times.”
But he could not explain the jump in Ardeer’s crime rate, from 329 offences to 430.
Crime hotspots
Brimbank’s crime hotspots are Sunshine and Albion (6417 offences); St Albans, Kings Park and Kealba (4982); and Cairnlea, Deer Park and Burnside (4561). There was also a 21.7 per cent increase in Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge and Taylors Lakes. Keilor was the only Brimbank suburb to have a decrease (3.6 per cent) in crime.
Brimbank has had increases in drug crime, weapons and explosives crime, theft, burglary, assault, property damage, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour, and dangerous and negligent acts endangering people.
There were decreases in disorderly and offensive conduct, deception, robbery, public nuisance offences, breaches of orders and sexual offences.
Hobsons Bay’s Inspector Michelle Young said a 10 per cent jump in crime in Brooklyn would be curbed by more CCTV cameras.
“Brooklyn is made up of many industrial areas where burglaries and thefts occur during night hours,” she said.
