BOCSAR: Armidale break-ins to homes are down but thefts from cars are up

The latest figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show crime rates in Armidale jumping in eight categories but big falls in three other sectors in the 12 months to September, this year.

Break-ins to homes fell from 445 to 263 in the 12 months, in comparison to the same time in 2015, while break-ins to businesses rose from 84 to 134 incidents.

“We've certainly been seeing that consistently as a volume crime for the New England but more particularly for Armidale,” New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy said.

Stealings from cars jumped from 273 incidents in 2015 to 411 reports in the 12 months to September, this year.

“It's still at a reasonably high rate, we’re still seeing people leaving property and valuables in cars,” Detective Inspector Joy said. 

“It presents as a temptation for those who have a tendency to commit those types of offences.”

Detective Inspector Joy said police continued to make patrols but urged the community to remain vigilant, with the crime mostly perpetrated by young offenders.

“Police do stop and search people in those areas we identity as hot spots for where those offences have been occurring, and very recently we have detected and taken action against a number of offenders committing that style of offence,” she said.

“Often they are juveniles and the action we do take it is under the Young Offenders Act or if necessary they're put before the court.”

According to the figures, malicious damage jumped from 374 to 541, and fraud more than doubled from 106 incidents to 212 reports this year.

But in a positive, domestic violence assaults fell from 70 incidents over the same period, and non-domestic assaults also dropped by 20 incidents in the 12 months to September. Shoplifting rose by 45 incidents, and stealings from persons jumped too.