THERE were 627,268 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in the twelve months to end of March 2025 – an increase of 91,692 offences or 17.1%.
When population growth is considered, the crime rate rose by 15.2% from the previous twelve months (8,838.7 offences per 100,000 people).
The impact caused by the first tranche of changes to bail laws is not evident in this reporting period, given these only came into effect on March 28, 2025.
For a third consecutive quarter, Victoria Police recorded the most arrests since electronic records began in 1993, and most likely, in Victoria Police’s 172-year history.
Police arrested 25,917 people a combined 75,968 times – the equivalent of 208 arrests per day.
Overall arrests have increased by 23% over the last decade (61,989 in 12 months to March 2016).
“There is no doubt overall crime is higher than both the community and police would like,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations David Clayton.
“That’s why every police officer is working tirelessly to reduce crime and hold criminals accountable – as they did in these twelve months with a record 75,968 arrests.”
The five fastest growing crimes are mostly property crimes, which is traditionally the case in difficult economic times.
In order, these crimes are:
Theft from motor vehicle (82,414 offences, +23,259 or 39.3%) remains the most common and fastest growing crime. This increase is being heavily driven by the theft of number plates (30,299, +10,042 or 49.6%). Opportunistic offenders also look for valuables such as wallets, cash and tools left in vehicles.
Theft from a retail store (41,270 offences, + 11,493 or 38.6%) continues to hit record highs, as cost of living pressures bite. Police are also aware of organised groups of shop stealers working together to steal goods and on-sell them for a profit.
Motor vehicle theft (31,551 offences, +10,099 or 47.1%) is at its highest levels since 2002. More than one in five cars are stolen in circumstances where the owner reports retaining their keys. This has coincided with an increase in offenders using electronic devices capable of programming or mimicking keys to steal cars.
Concerningly, there has been a sharp increase in stolen cars being involved in collisions, with 763 in the twelve months to March (+322 or 73%). Six of these collisions resulted in fatalities.
“We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads,” said Mr. Clayton.
“This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives.”
Theft (other) offences was the fourth fastest growing crime (58,137 offences, +9,879 or 20.5%), with petrol the most common item stolen in this category (5,627, +1,167 or 26.2%).
Family violence order breaches (63,809, +9,848 or 18.3%) increased as Victoria experienced a record 106,247 family violence incidents (+10,271 or 10.7%).
Other key areas of interest include:
Child crime (10-17) remains at the highest levels since electronic records commenced in 1993 (25,275 incidents, +17.9%). Children only account for 13.1% of all offenders processed, however they are overrepresented in serious and violent crimes such as robberies (63.1%), aggravated burglaries (46%), and car theft (26.9%).
Aggravated residential burglaries remain at historic highs (7,878, +1,839 or 30.5%).
