Rodney Stevens
The crimes of car theft and stealing from a retail store in the Coffs Harbour – Grafton region over the past two years have experienced the second highest increase in NSW according to the latest crime statistics, a spike in figures which police say is due to low crime rates during the Covid pandemic.
Coffs Clarence Police District officers are tackling the problem head-on this month with Operation Lockup targeting property offenders.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research BOCSAR released its crime statistics for the December quarter this month, detailing crime reported to, or detected by, police and recorded on the NSW Police Force’s Computerised Operational Policing System (COPS).
Regular reports on social media of cars being stolen in the Clarence Valley are reflected in the statistics which show the region experienced a 46 per-cent increase in motor vehicle theft over the past two years, behind only the Sydney suburb of Ryde, which saw a 65.3 per-cent rise.
Coinciding with the increase in cars being stolen was the number of thefts from a motor vehicle over the past two years, which also saw the second highest increase in the state at 32.5 per-cent, behind only the Riverina at 33.4 per-cent.
Stealing from a retail store in the region over the past two years has increased by 49.5 per-cent, second only to Sydney’s Eastern suburbs 53.5 per-cent increase.
Other significant trends over the past two years include a 20 per-cent increase in break and enter dwelling, the fourth highest in NSW.
The two-year trend for property offences in the Coffs Harbour – Grafton region was up 18.9 per-cent, while over the past five years, property offences in the region are down by 4 per-cent.
This was the second highest two-year trend increase for property offences in NSW, behind only the City and Inner South which saw a 27 per-cent jump.
BOCSAR defines property offences as break and enter dwelling, break and enter non-dwelling, motor vehicle theft, steal from motor vehicle, steal from retail store, steal from dwelling, steal from person, stock theft and other theft.
Meanwhile, the five-year trend for violent offences in the Coffs Harbour – Grafton region was up by 2.3 per-cent, the equal seventh highest increase in NSW.
Over the 12 months to December 2022, 481 break and enters of dwellings were committed in the region, 397 cars were reported stolen and there were 738 reported instances of theft from a motor vehicle.
Coffs Clarence Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty said there are a number of factors impacting increased crime in these areas.
“The crime stats are taken in across a rolling average over past years which include and 18-month period of very low activity due to Covid lockdown,” he said.
“This is reflecting an unfortunate return to normal crime trends which appear as a spike.”
Det Chief Insp Flaherty said local police had identified crime trends relating to stolen cars and theft from retail stores.
“There is a trend in relation to stolen motor vehicles and steal from motor vehicles and a link to residential break and enters that the command is focusing on as a priority,” he said.
“Concerningly, over 30 per-cent of the vehicles that are broken into and stolen are a result of them being unlocked and the keys left in the vehicle, or where offenders have gained entry to unlocked vehicles and utilised the remote control to enter homes (through garages) where they have then taken personal effects and quite often the keys to the car.
“Stealing from a retail store, this too has been adjusted as a result of Covid lockdown periods.
“We have also noticed in some ways that theft of necessity in relation to the stealing of food goods.”
Det Chief Insp Flaherty said police want to remind people to lock their cars at night and ensure that access doors, windows and second floor balconies screens and windows are locked and secured at night.
“Throughout March police will be focusing with Operation Lockup targeting property offenders,” he said.