Media Release: Thefts from motor vehicles lead the increases in recorded offences

The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released the Victorian recorded crime statistics for the year ending 31 December 2023 today.

The rate of recorded offences increased, up 5.6% to 7,698.2 per 100,000 Victorians in the last 12 months, and the number of offences increased 8.4% to 523,523, these remain below 2020 numbers and below the previous 2016 peak of 550,938. Property and deception offences had the largest increase in the last 12 months, up 16.0% or 39,953 to 290,164 offences. The main driver of the increases was Theft (up 26,659 to 174,719 offences) with Steal from a motor vehicle the largest contributor (up 9,037 to 56,810 offences) in the last 12 months.

In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, the number of criminal incidents increased, up 10.6% or 37,112 to 385,782 incidents, below 2020 numbers and the previous 2016 peak of 419,599. The criminal incident rate also increased, up 7.8% to 5,672.7 per 100,000 Victorians. Property and deception offences drove this increase, up 18.4% to 229,459 incidents, just below 2019 numbers and the previous peak of 271,064 in 2016.

Alleged offender incidents increased 11.6% to 170,179 in the last 12 months, as did the rate (up 8.5% to 2,835.0 per 100,000 Victorians). Alleged offender incidents with a principal offence of Theft increased by 28.2% or 7,124 to 32,406 alleged offender incidents, driven by Steal from a retail store up 37.9% or 3,622 to 13,182 alleged offender incidents and Breach family violence orders up 2,024 or 13.1% to 17,529 incidents.

The victimisation rate increased by 7.3% to 3,227.9 reports per 100,000 Victorians, remaining below 2019 numbers. The number of person-related victim reports was up 10.2% to 222,916 and organisation-related reports was up 24.2% to 84,529, both below 2019 numbers and the 2016 peak. Steal from a motor vehicle drove the increase in person-related victim reports (up 17.4% to 45,831 person victims) while Steal from a retail store drove the increase in organisation reports (up 38.6% to 26,178).

Family incidents increased by 2.0% in the last 12 months, with 94,170 incidents recorded across Victoria. The rate of family incidents remained stable, down 0.6% or 1,384.7 incidents per 100,000 Victorians.

CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that “the recent upturn in most key crime measures is due to increases in high volume Property and deception offences categories, particularly in thefts from motor vehicles and retail stores. An increase in these acquisitive offence types reflects in part a return to pre-pandemic trends, but also is in line with current cost of living pressures.” 

More detailed information is available on the latest crime data webpage.

For further information please contact: 
Crime Statistics Agency 
Email: info@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au (External link)