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Wednesday 26 March 2025
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Recognition of teaching legacy HASTINGS Primary School has bid a formal farewell to dedicated teacher Jo Munn who has retired after 45 years in the profession. See ‘Munn’s 45-year career is a class act ’ - Page 5 Picture: Gary Sissons
Crime soars on the peninsula Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au THEFT from motor vehicles, burglaries, and car theft have fuelled a soaring crime rate in the Mornington Peninsula Shire – up 28.3 per cent in 2024, according to the latest official Crime Statistics Agency data. Crime rose across most suburbs and most criminal categories including
1297 incidents of theft from motor vehicle offences (up 40 per cent) and 1330 burglary incidents (up 34 per cent), among the big movers in the year ending December last year. Also up were family violence order breaches (762 offences, up 28 per cent), assaults (13 per cent), residential non-aggravated burglaries (32 per cent), other theft (29 per cent), and criminal damage (three per cent). There were also 362 vehicles re-
ported stolen in 2024 – up 45 per cent. Theft from retail shops also soared 28 per cent, with 658 incidents recorded. Other significant rises were sexual offences (up 26 per cent), stalking (28 per cent) and drug use and possession (18 per cent). Houses were the most common locations for recorded offences, with a 28 per cent increase, up from 1993 to 2806 incidents. There were also 37
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incidents of assault police, emergency services or other authorised officer. Across the shire’s suburbs, criminal offences were up in Mornington (up five per cent), Rosebud (34 per cent), Dromana (28 per cent), and Somerville (26 per cent). Child offenders aged 10-17 were however down from 633 to 590 offenders. The highest rise was in the 30–34-year-old category (up 23 per cent).
Victoria Police deputy-commissioner Bob Hill said he welcomed the government’s bail changes, which he believed would lead to a reduction in youth offending and crimes such as aggravated burglaries. “We completely understand the community’s concerns around young offenders breaking into homes, stealing cars, and putting other people at risk on our roads,” he said. Continued Page 9
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