Crime continued to grow in Hume and Whittlesea according to new Crime Statistics Agency data.
The new statistics show that criminal offences increased by 15.7 per cent across the state in the 12 months to June.
In Whittlesea, the offence increase was well above the state increase.
Offences in the 12 months to June increased from 14,976 to 18,346 which is a 22.5 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
Epping was the number one location for criminal offences, with 4360 offences. Thomastown, Mill Park, Lalor and Mernda rounded out the top five with only Mill Park having a decrease in offences.
Stealing from a motor vehicle was the top offence, with 2675 offences. Breach of family violence (2107), and other theft (2106) were in the others in the top three.
While criminal offences were up 15.3 per cent in the 12 months to June in Hume, it was below the state increase by 0.4 per cent.
Across Hume, stealing from a motor vehicle was the top offence recorded with 3642, followed by other theft, breach of a family violence order, motor vehicle theft, and criminal damage.
In Hume, Craigieburn was hit the hardest with 4226 offences recorded in the 12 months to June.
Broadmeadows was second with 3767, followed by Sunbury with 2817, Campbellfield with 1715 and Mickleham with 1314.
Across Victoria, crime rose to a total of 638, 640 offences recorded.
The most recorded crime remains to be theft from a motor vehicle, followed by motor vehicle theft and family violence order breaches, all of which were highly reported across Hume and Whittlesea.
Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill said that this level of crime cannot continue or be accepted.
“We will continue to make arrests and hold offenders to account, but we need to prevent and deter crime to reduce offending so that there are fewer victims in Victoria,” he said.
Mr Hill said they are working on new approaches to deter repeat offenders, as well as working with the government to respond to the growing issue.
“Victoria Police has set an ambitious target of reducing serious and violent crime by five per cent each year. There is no doubt this will be a challenge, but it is a fight we are up for to ensure our community remains as safe as possible,” he said.
