Crime rates increase in Melbourne’s north-west

Total criminal incidents North Melbourne, West Melbourne and Kensington were 33 per cent above the average of the previous nine years according to statistics released by Crime Stats Victoria last month.

There were 5151 criminal incidents across the three suburbs in 2024 – 1000 more than the previous year.

The increase was roughly the same across the three suburbs. North Melbourne was up 37 per cent, Kensington 30 per cent and West Melbourne 33 per cent over the average of the previous nine years.

The increase was sharpest in “property and deception” crimes which increased 50 per cent across all three areas. This category includes crimes like theft, burglary, and property damage.

These statistics do not take into account increases in population and foot traffic in the area.

In the City of Melbourne LGA, criminal incidents per 100,000 residents increased 10.7 per cent over 2023.

The same statistic was three per cent higher than the average of the previous nine years and 12 per cent lower than 2015. This means that population growth has outpaced the increase in crime in the city over the last decade.

The local increase in crime reflects a wider pattern across the state, as significant increases in theft and robbery drive higher crime rates. Statewide criminal incidents per 100,000 residents increased nine per cent over the nine-year average in 2024.

The rate of theft offences being recorded per 100,000 Victorians has exceeded historical peaks according to CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley.

“These increasingly prevalent theft offences can be opportunistic in nature and may be linked to cost-of-living pressures, especially for increases in shoplifting where increases are linked to adult offenders often in their 30s. Younger alleged offenders tend to be involved in theft offences involving motor vehicles,” Ms Dowsley said.

Though total criminal incidents in the City of Melbourne increased 10.7 per cent over 2023, that is only a 2.2 per cent increase over the nine-year average.