Rodney Stevens

Lock up all of your valuables – always.

That is the strong message from the Coffs Clarence Police District after the region experienced the second highest increase in the rate of motor vehicle theft across the state according to statistics released last week by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

Over the two years to September 2024, motor vehicle theft across the Coffs Clarence Police District (CCPD) has soared by 32.2 per-cent, the highest rate in Regional NSW, only trailing Inner West Sydney with a 35.9 per-cent spike over the same period.

In the past month alone in Yamba, more than three vehicles have been stolen, with two being found burnt out near Kolora Lake.

The neighbouring Richmond Tweed Police District was the only other area in Regional NSW that experienced an increase in motor vehicle theft over the same period, with an increase of 19.8 per-cent.

Conversely, the Regional NSW areas of New England and North West, and Far West and Orana experienced significant declines in the rate of motor vehicle theft over the two years to September 2024, with reductions of 29.1 per-cent and 21.2 per-cent respectively.

Motor vehicle theft was the only anomaly identified in the BOCSAR statistics for the CCPD in the two years to September 2024, with no significant increases in other crime categories.

Over the 12 months to September 2024, the CCPD experienced, on average, more than one motor vehicle stolen every day, with 534 vehicles reported stolen, while there were 776 instances reported of stealing from motor vehicles.

Whereas over the 12 months to September 2023 there were 404 reported incidents of motor vehicle theft and 625 occasions of stealing from motor vehicles reported.

The most prevalent crime in the state and the CCPD continues to be malicious damage to property with 49,528 instances reported to police in NSW in the 12 months to September 2024, while in the CCPD 1369 incidents of malicious damage to property were reported.

The escalating problem of family and domestic violence across the CCPD saw an increase of 48 reported occurrences over the 12 months from September 2023 to September 2024, from 1112 to 1160.

Violence continues to be a problem for CCPD officers with 804 reported non-domestic violence related assaults in the 12 months to September 2024, five murders, and 310 reported sexual assaults.

As the cost-of-living crisis gets worse by the week, reported break and enters of dwellings in the CCPD have increased over the two years to September 2024 from 456 to 566, while reported break and enters of non-dwellings rose from 257 to 291.

All throughout 2024 the CCPD has been advising locals and visitors to the region to do five things before going to bed each night.

Remove valuables, including tools from your car.

Lock up your car and house.

Check your CCTV is working.

Switch on your downstairs alarms at night if possible.

Report any suspicious activity to the NSW Police Assistance Line on 131 444.