Mount Evelyn
Tuesday, 2 July, 2024
Budget adopted with minor changes
Barak-ing for new name
Ending the winter blues with Suite Surrender
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A Star News Group Publication
PR OP ER TY
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Crime on rise By Tanya Steele
Montrose resident and Healesville paramedic Alison Bowen has joined an elite club of people who have climbed Mount Everest. Picture: SUPPLIED
Healesville paramedic conquers highest peak It’s known as one of the toughest challenges on Earth but one Yarra Ranges resident conquered the climb. A Montrose resident and a paramedic for the Yarra Valley, Alison Bowen has climbed numerous summits before but this was the ultimate experience - getting to the top of Mount Everest.
Undertaking the Seven Summits Challenge, climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents, Ms Bowen ticked off Everest as the fifth on the to-do list. It took nine months of training and preparation of, not only, her body but her mind to reach the peak. To read the full story turn to page 10
Property-related crimes have driven up crime across Victoria this year and overall crime is up across the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley according to the latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA). Repeat offenders, property theft, family violence and youth crime remain a priority for Victoria Police after the recent release with cost of living being floated as partly responsible for the rise. Criminal incidents in Casey were up by 13.3 per cent, Cardinia 10.7 per cent, Knox by 8.3 per cent, Maroondah by five per cent and the Yarra Ranges by 2.1 per cent since last year. The top categories in crime for these areas all included breaches of family violence orders, criminal damages, motor vehicle, retail and other thefts in varying orders while across Victoria theft and criminal damages took out the top five. Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Brett Curran said while family violence and child and youth crime remain significant concerns, it’s pleasing that almost three years since the final Victorian coronavirus restriction was lifted, our crime rate remains 6.2 per cent below pre-pandemic levels. “Police intelligence from Operation Trinity also indicates the top 20 burglars and car thieves in Melbourne have committed almost one fifth of all burglaries where a car was stolen over the past year. A spokesperson from police media has said repeat offenders account for over two-thirds of the state’s total crimes. “This is particularly relevant for offences such as home burglaries and theft,” they said. “While overall crime has gradually increased since Victoria emerged from the pandemic, offending has still not reached prepandemic levels.” CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said there has been a 17 per cent increase in theft
The outer east has seen a slight rise in crime over the last 12 months. Picture: ON FILE offences in Victoria recorded in the last 12 months. “This rapid increase in crimes involving the acquisition of property may be related to cost of living pressures,” she said. “The increase in property-related crime was the largest contributor to the overall increase in crime in the last year.” Victoria Police have said police intelligence has shown unlocked vehicles are being targeted, with more than 60 per cent of cars recently broken into in one hotspot found to be unlocked. “The most common theft (other) offence is theft of petrol, which may also be linked to cost of living pressures,” they said. Motor vehicle theft has peaked with the the highest number of offences since 2017 in Victoria and police intelligence indicated the three most common places cars are stolen are from a residential area (with no associated offence), non-residential street or carpark, and during an aggravated burglary. Retail outlets are being hit with thefts targeting essential items like food and police intelligence have said this indicates as many as 50 per cent of offenders are first time shop stealers, while a quarter are first time criminal offenders. Continued page 3
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