mmg.com.au

Residential burglaries, crimes against the person and theft from cars in the district have all increased since this time last year.

The most recent Victoria Police crime statistics show residential burglaries increased by 31 per cent in the year to the end of September, compared to the previous year.

Crimes against the person, which includes assault, increased by 13.3 per cent.

Campaspe police service area Inspector Martin Dorman said this was due to increased reporting and prosecution of family violence.

‘‘(But) there has been a significant reduction in the area of assaults on the streets and in or around licensed premises,’’ he said.

Insp. Dorman said the increase in residential burglaries was mainly due to a small number of repeat offenders.

‘‘The Echuca Crime Investigation Unit and police across the area have been vigilant in identifying these individuals,’’ he said.

Thefts from cars increased by more than 36 per cent on the same period last year.

Insp. Dorman said the offence was also of real concern to police.

‘‘If residents see people acting in strange ways in public areas or in and around houses or cars, we encourage them to call police,’’ he said.

Statistics also showed overall crimes against property dropped by 18 per cent and assault, excluding family violence, dropped by 10 per cent.

Overall crime also dropped by 10 per cent.

The stats also pointed to increased road trauma, both in fatalities and injuries.

In the last financial year there were six fatalities in Campaspe police service area, compared to just two the previous financial year.

‘‘Campaspe PSA has seen a staggering increase in the level of road trauma over the past 12 months and we have seen a marked increase in the incidence of serious injury crashes on our roads,’’ Insp. Dorman said.

‘‘As we approach the summer festive season, the focus of policing in Campaspe will be around traffic enforcement.’’