UPDATE: Casey is facing an alarming crime wave, with nearly 30,000 offenses reported over the last year, marking a shocking 20.5% increase from the previous year. According to the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), a total of 29,858 offenses were recorded in the year leading up to June 2025, with significant implications for community safety.
This surge in crime is not just a statistic; it reflects a deepening concern for residents. Cranbourne leads the charge with 4,144 offenses, followed closely by Narre Warren at 3,600, and Berwick with 3,108. The data also reveals a distressing spike in aggravated home burglaries, which have skyrocketed by 40%—a total of 592 offenses reported.
Family violence incidents have also surged by 13.6%, amounting to 6,518 cases, including 3,574 breaches of family violence orders. In addition, other alarming trends include a 29% increase in motor vehicle thefts, reaching 1,923 incidents, and a 15% rise in theft from vehicles with 4,353 offenses recorded.
Police attribute much of this rise to increasingly tech-savvy thieves who are targeting car keys during home burglaries. Additionally, nearly 40% of all motor vehicle thefts involve stolen number plates, indicating a wider trend of organized crime.
Authorities have noted that crime is prevalent in various locations, with 12,054 offenses occurring in homes, and 3,741 on streets and footpaths. Despite recent initiatives from Premier Jacinta Allan, including the ban on machetes and the introduction of tougher bail laws, knife crime remains a critical concern. Although the CSA does not track knife offenses specifically, related weapon offenses have reached 11,075 cases.
“As a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalized,” said Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill.
In a troubling trend, the profile of offenders shows that the highest number of alleged criminals, 1,425, are aged 45 and over. However, offenses among younger individuals are rising, with 1,326 offenders aged 18–24 and 1,310 aged 10–17. Children represent just 12.8% of all offenders but are disproportionately involved in serious crimes such as robberies and aggravated burglaries.
For the first time, the CSA has released data on bail applications, revealing an 18.4% increase in the last year, driven by heightened refusals and revocations. Fiona Dowsley, CSA Chief Statistician, emphasized that this data is crucial for understanding the criminal justice system’s impact on reoffending.
Deputy Commissioner Hill reiterated the need for proactive measures, stating, “We will continue to make arrests and hold offenders accountable, but we need to prevent and deter crime.” He urged the public to take simple safety precautions, such as locking doors and utilizing anti-theft devices.
Victoria Police has set an ambitious goal of reducing serious and violent crime by 5% each year, a challenging yet vital effort to enhance community safety. As this situation continues to develop, residents are advised to stay vigilant and informed.
