Victoria is grappling with a significant surge in crime, with 578,762 offences recorded in the year to September 2024—a 13.4 percent increase from the previous year, or an increase of 68,536 cases.
This rise is primarily driven by property crimes, particularly theft from motor vehicles, which reached a record high of 68,042 offences.
As summer approaches, police anticipate further increases and urge the community to remain vigilant.
Premier Jacinta Allan has tasked Police Minister Anthony Carbines with expanded responsibilities to address community safety and victim support.
“Our focus is always on supporting victims of crime and ensuring Victoria Police has the resources it needs,” Premier Allan said.
However, Shadow Minister for Youth Justice Brad Battin criticised the government’s approach, stating, “The Allan Labor Government is out of ideas to fix the youth justice crisis. Victorians don’t want a talk fest—they need action to make the state safe again.”
Retail theft also spiked by 36.6 percent, influenced by inflation and cost-of-living pressures, while family violence incidents surpassed 100,000 for the first time.
Property Crime and Theft Skyrocket
The rise in property crimes has been dramatic, with theft from motor vehicles reaching a record high of 68,042 offences, an increase of 13,924 cases.Stolen number plates accounted for over 24,000 cases, while power tools ranked as the second most targeted items.
83 percent of these incidents showed no sign of forced entry.
Retail theft rose by 36.6 percent to 35,951 offences—largely attributed to inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
Groceries, alcohol, cosmetics, and vitamins were among the most frequently stolen items. Police have identified hotspots such as Melbourne’s CBD and street markets in St Albans, as areas of concern.
Motor vehicle thefts also climbed to a 20-year high of 25,773 offences, with youth offenders responsible for 40 percent of cases. Petrol thefts increased by 23.7 percent.
Family Violence Breaches Exceed 100,000
Family violence incidents reached unprecedented levels, with police responding to a 10.4 percent rise in incidents.“Victoria reached the unwanted milestone of more than 100,000 family violence incidents—police responded to an incident every five minutes,” said Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson.
Aggravated assaults against women tied to family violence surged by 92.2 percent, and family violence-related offences now account for 20.7 percent of all crimes in Victoria.
Tragically, there were 30 family violence-related homicides, 12 of which occurred in regional areas.
Youth Crime at Record Levels
Youth crime is on the rise, with offences by teenagers aged 10–17 increasing by 16.9 percent to 23,810 cases, the highest since 2009.This group accounts for 50 percent of all robbery offenders and a quarter of aggravated burglary cases.
Police processed 7,310 child offenders a total of 23,810 times, with one in three identified as repeat offenders. Operations Alliance and Trinity aim to target this group.
Christmas Crime Spike
The festive season has historically seen a sharp rise in family violence incidents, with police responding to 372 cases on Christmas Day alone last year, significantly higher than the daily average of 279.Breaches of family violence orders accounted for 91 of these offences, followed by 79 cases of assault.
Burglaries and Police Operations
Home burglaries totalled 28,432 offences, while aggravated residential burglaries rose sharply to 6,927 from 1,340.These are often linked to car theft, and youth offenders accounted for almost half of all aggravated burglary cases.
Operation Trinity has deployed 70 officers nightly across Melbourne, leading to the arrest of 673 individuals 1,550 times for home burglaries and car thefts.
Commercial burglaries also rose by 3,528 cases.
