By Corey Everitt
Cardinia’s crime rate is bouncing back to its pre-pandemic high with criminal offences rising a dramatic 15 per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The Crime Statistic Agency released the data for the year ending in December 2023, showing Cardinia’s offences rising by 15.4 percent since 2022. The offence rate is 5,587.6 per 100,000 which is still lower than 2020’s rate of 6,525 per 100,000.
Just over half of all incidents in the year – 50.9 per cent – remain unsolved with only just under a third – 29.1 percent – resulting in charges laid.
Ages 18-24 topped the list of alleged offenders, with a seven per cent increase to 381 through 2023. The over 45 bracket was close behind with a large increase of 17 per cent, alleged offenders standing at 373. 10-17 dropped by 8.5 percent to 366 alleged offenders.
The suburb with the most offences is still Pakenham which rose by just under 12 percent to 4072 total, representing more than half of all Cardinia’s criminal offences.
Officer’s offences rose by 19 percent to 1027 total, while Beaconsfield and Kooweerup were around the same as 2022 at 305 and 255, respectively.
Lang Lang reached the top five in offences, almost doubling from 137 total in 2022 to 230 in 2023.
Breaching of Family Violence orders remains the top offence, only rising slightly compared to last year.
Thefts rose substantially with stealing from a motor vehicle rising to the second top offence group with a 36 percent increase from last year to 697 total. Theft from retail rose 240 in 2022 to 404 in 2023. While all other thefts rose 26 percent to 547 total.
Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia Superintendent Damian Jackson highlighted that while the overall crime rate in Cardinia has slightly risen over the past year, “it remains at its third lowest levels for the past decade”.
“Cardinia remains a very safe place to live and work, with the overall crime in Cardinia 27 per cent below the statewide crime rate,” Superintendent Jackson said.
“Police in Cardinia are also solving crimes at a slightly higher rate than elsewhere in the state, with investigations into serious and violent crimes prioritised due to the victim impact.”
Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath responded to the rise by calling on the State Government to boost police resources in her electorate with emphasis on areas including Cardinia.
“Any additional police officers over recent years have been allocated to task forces in the CBD, not placed on patrol in our rural and regional communities,” she said.
“Police officers on the beat are under the pump, so much so that the thin blue line under Labor is getting thinner. Crime is up and criminal offences are going unsolved.”
According to Victoria Police, there is a very small core group of young people living in Cardinia who are involved in serious and violent crime.
Victoria Police regularly works alongside Cardinia Shire Council to assist young people, and to offer outreach support to those experiencing housing, mental health, or drug-related issues.
The majority of thefts from vehicles and properties are opportunistic, where homes and vehicles are left unlocked.
Victoria Police encourage the community to ensure their home, vehicles and sheds are locked.
Pakenham Police Station has an allocated Victim Assistance Worker to allow people to come forward and report crimes.
