Crime figures up, gap closing

Police have recorded an almost seven per cent drop in South West crime since January, despite the fact crime is still higher than April last year.

Crime is still up 12.7 per cent on this time last year but has decreased from the 19.6 per cent recorded on January 13.

Police South West District Supt Peter Hatch said the 6.9 per cent downturn in crime was a result of a reshuffle of police resources and targeting prolific offenders.

“Crooks will be looking over their shoulders, rather than the general public (looking),” he said.

“There has been a turn around in crime but I’m aiming for the day I can say we’re down on crime compared to the year before.”

Crime figures in January for Bunbury were 32.1 per cent higher than in January last year, while Australind was 28.5 per cent higher and Busselton 13.9 per cent up.

The three centres’ April figures have fallen to 20.8 per cent, 22.5 per cent and 7.7 per cent higher respectively than at the same time last year.

“Bunbury, Australind and Busselton represent most of the South West’s reported crime,” Supt Hatch said.

Burglaries in the South West in January were 20.8 per cent higher than last year, but are now down to 12 per cent above last April.

Car thefts were up 66 per cent on last year but that increase has dropped by more than half to 30.5 per cent.

In January, thefts were up 30.9 per cent compared to last year but have now dropped to 21.8 per cent. Supt Hatch said South West police officers deserved a pat on the back for all they had achieved in the past three months.

“They’ve put the work in and achieved these pleasing results,” he said.

“If we maintain this momentum, I think we’ll see an overall reduction in crime by next year.”

Some of the operations undertaken in the past three months to reduce crime include Operation Sharkfin — targeting the region’s active offenders — and Operation Restoration, which works to solve open cases which are linked through forensic evidence.