Strathbogie Shire records minor increase in crime

A MINOR increase in criminal incidents has been recorded in the Strathbogie Shire in the year ending March 31, 2024. The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) data, released quarterly, was published last week, showing a 16.8 percent increase in criminal incidents in the Strathbogie Shire compared to the previous year. Some 445 incidents were recorded in 2024, up from 381 in 2023. The number of incidents remains lower than the 461 incidents recorded in 2021. Asked last month if he believes there has been a significant recent rise in crime in the Strathbogie Shire, Leading Senior Constable Peter Bath of Euroa Police said: “I don't believe so, not over the long term.” “We've had a bit of a run in the last month or so, but that has happened in various times in the last decade, if someone moves into town or someone's passing through town we get a spike for a week or two until they either move or they get caught,” he said. Euroa recorded one fewer criminal incident in 2024, with 111 incidents, down from 112 in 2023. Nagambie saw a minor increase, recording 100 criminal incidents in 2024, up from 94 in 2023. Avenel’s crime rate has remained remarkably steady, recording the same number of criminal incidents, 41, in both 2024 and 2024. Only 29 criminal incidents were recorded in quiet Violet Town in 2024, but the number is up from 19 the previous year. Miepoll also saw a rise, recording 21 incidents compared to 12 the previous year. Some 55.1pc of the Strathbogie Shire’s crimes are unsolved, up from to 41.5pc the previous year. Discussing the CSA’s previous quarterly statistics release, Ld Sen Const Bath last month said he was not sure why the number of unsolved cases had increased. “Probably people are reporting more,” he said. “A lot of it's probably farm theft, cattle theft, stock theft – due to the remoteness of it, it's difficult to pinpoint offenders for it.” Some 30 farmland/agricultural offences were recorded in the shire in 2024, compared to 15 the previous year. Victoria has seen a 17 percent increase in theft offences over the last 12 months. CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said this was “driven by the highest ever numbers of steal from a retail store offences, as well as sizable increases in steal from a motor vehicle and burglary offences”. “This rapid increase in crimes involving the acquisition of property may be related to cost-of-living pressures,” she said.

Strathbogie Shire records minor increase in crime

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