WHILE robberies dropped 18 per cent in NSW last year, around the Great Lakes they dropped more than 30 per cent, with motor vehicle theft dropped falling to more than 40 per cent of 2013 levels.
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Manning-Great Lakes Local Area Command crime manager Detective Acting Inspector Natalie Stephens said she believed there were a few reasons that caused a drop in robberies.
“We are doing a good job and policing is reflected in the stats,” Act Insp Stephens said.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recently published statistics for various crimes in NSW committed last year.
The ABS said homicide and robbery fell about 18 per cent state wide and assault, motor vehicle theft and unlawful entry with intent fell about six per cent state wide.
However, the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research’s (BOCSAR) latest quarterly statistics showed crime in the Great Lakes fell much lower.
BOCSAR said in the Great Lakes area from March 2013 to March 2015, break and enter dwelling dropped 35.1 per cent, break and enter non-dwelling dropped 39.4 per cent, motor vehicle theft dropped 41.7 per cent and steal from motor vehicle dropped 36.6 per cent.
Act Insp Stephens said they could attribute the drop to more police and a focus on public awareness campaigns.
“We also look at educating the public in relation to their property,” she said.
“Things like not leaving valuables in the car or locking them up in their camp sites.”
Act Insp Stephens said the Great Lakes criminal population did not move around.
“Offenders usually remain local,” she said.
“People who are prolific offenders that are incarcerated for a long time will reflect in those figures.”
Act Insp Stephens also said it was difficult to predict how the statistics would react in the future.
“In relation whether stats will drop or not, it depends on so many factors,” she said.
“We are not talking about huge numbers of crime, one or two incidents might spike figures.”
She said police would continue to work with the community to build strong relations.
“That is how you best police an area.”
The ABS also reported small rise in sexual assault offences, which saw a 0.9 per cent increase in New South Wales in 2014, which reflects a nationwide trend.
Police believe increased reporting could have influenced this.
