Media Release: Property and deception offences continue to rise alongside new peak in family incidents

The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released the Victorian recorded crime statistics for the year ending 30 June 2024 today.

The rate of recorded offences increased, up 6.7% to 7,925.0 per 100,000 Victorians in the last 12 months, while the number of offences increased 9.1% to 552,228. While Property and deception offences had the largest increase in the last 12 months, up 14.4% or 39,262 to 311,963 offences they remain below the record peak in offences of 319,928 in 2016. The main drivers of the increase were Theft up 29,863 to 192,534 offences and Steal from a motor vehicle up 9,103 to 61,959 offences in the last 12 months.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2024, the number of criminal incidents increased, up 10.7% or 39,495 to 410,108 incidents. The rate also increased, up 8.2% to 5,885.5 per 100,000 Victorians. Despite recent increases in Property and deception offences in the last year, these figures remain below pre-COVID levels.

Alleged offender incidents increased 11.8% to 175,997 in the last 12 months, as did the rate up 9.2% to 2,855.7 per 100,000. Theft offences increased by 27.2% or 7,688 to 36,005 alleged offender incidents. Specifically, Steal from a retail store incidents increased 37.0% or 4,120 to 15,253 alleged offender incidents.

The victimisation rate increased by 8.2% to 3,416.3 reports per 100,000 Victorians. The number of person-related victim reports was up 10.6% to 238,054 and organisation reports was up 20.9% to 93,677. The rise in person victim reports (up 17.7% to 102,441) was primarily driven by theft.

Family incidents increased by 6.1% in the last 12 months, with 98,816 incidents recorded across Victoria. The rate also increased, up 3.8% or 1,418.1 incidents per 100,000 Victorians.

CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that “there has been a 14% increase in property and deception offences recorded in the last 12 months, driven by theft, burglary/break and enter and property damage”.

“Family incidents and assaults have reached the highest levels in a decade, with a notable rise in aggravated assaults on females and breaches of intervention orders, often accompanied by criminal damage.” Ms Dowsley said.

More detailed information is available on the latest crime data (External link) webpage.
For further information please contact: 
Crime Statistics Agency 
Email: info@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au (External link)