Crime drop greater in the region

Crime rates in the Great Southern have fallen to start the new financial year, far exceeding the reduction across regional WA.

With new figures from WA police showing crimes against property or person falling 10.5 per cent compared with the same quarter last year, the region recorded a 13 per cent drop across the board.

Burglaries have dropped dramatically by 33 per cent compared with the first three months of last year, while motor vehicle thefts are down 27 per cent, property damage 17 per cent and family violence is also down 8 per cent.

Burglaries are down 20.3 per cent across regional WA.

However, police in the Great Southern district remain concerned by theft and fraud offences regarding credit card theft and stolen mail, and reminded residents to regularly check their credit card statements to identify any irregularities.

Great Southern police district Superintendent Ian Clarke said a 14 per cent rise in stealing offences could be attributed to opportunistic thefts from cars.

“The community has a responsibility to minimise opportunity by not leaving money or expensive items like laptops, iPads and phones visible in cars,” he said.

“Police will continue to target areas where this type of offence has been more prevalent.”

Supt Clarke said proactive policing targeting people supplying drugs had led to an 11 per cent increase in drug detections.

“I am very proud of the efforts made by the Great Southern police officers and our police staff in their continued efforts to use traditional and innovative methods to reduce crime in the Great Southern,” he said.

“We live in a safe community in the Great Southern, and with some simple precautions by community members they can assist police in reducing the offences which have spiked.

“The additional information from the community to police continues to be a key strategy in combating the crooks who choose to steal from other members in the community.”