By Tanya Steele
Despite additional resources in place some local government areas in the outer east of Victoria are facing steady rises in youth crime.
Under 18-year-olds are committing crime at rates that are rising at concerning levels with Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency reporting a steady increase in the last year.
The state average increase of 20.1 per cent saw that crimes committed by children aged 10 to 17 have risen to their highest levels since 2010.
Municipalities throughout the outer east have had varying changes, Knox has had youth crime continue to rise steadily in the last two years and has increased by 37.04 per cent for 2024.
Cardinia Shire and Yarra Ranges have had significantly less with both regions reporting over ten per cent less crime than 2023.
Casey has risen by over 10 per cent and Maroondah hit a 16.54 per cent increase – bringing it much closer to the state average for 2024.
With 22,298 incidents reported, Victoria Police said that repeat offending among child offenders remains a challenge for police with a 10.4 per cent increase in children aged 10 to 17 who are committing repeat crimes in Victoria.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Brett Curran said that crimes committed by children under the age of 18 continue to rise at concerning levels, with this cohort significantly overrepresented in serious and violent crimes such as aggravated burglaries, car thefts, high-risk driving and robberies.
“Victoria Police continues to invest significant resources towards curbing these offenders – arresting seven youth gang members, child burglars and underage car thieves each day over the past year as part of our two major youth-focused operations – Alliance and Trinity,” he said.
Operation Trinity alone sees 70 additional police including Dog Squad, Public Order Response and Air Wing rostered each night, on top of existing patrols, conducted every night in areas including Dandenong, Cardinia, Casey, Knox, Maroondah, and the Yarra Ranges.
“There are a relatively small group of hardened child offenders causing significant community harm. This includes over 160 youth gang members who were arrested three or more times last year and another 38 who were arrested ten or more times as part of Operation Alliance,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Curran said.
A recent major investigation by the Eastern Region Crime Squad led to 46 arrests in connection to over 140 cigarette burglaries and armed robberies at service stations, supermarkets, and tobacconists across Melbourne this year.
Many suburbs throughout Cardinia, Knox and the Yarra Ranges were affected by these as recently as late May.
While most arrests were children, four adults were also arrested.
Police will allege these men were the orchestrators behind the network of children aged 12- 17 who stole over $2 million of cigarettes and cash.
This was a highly significant result, and police will continue to target those behind this offending.
Police media have said that child and youth offenders are changing their offending habits, due to being targeted by police or if more lucrative offending opportunities arise.
“Victoria Police will continue to closely monitor new and emerging crime trends to ensure we always remain one step ahead of offenders to prevent crime and keep the community safe,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Curran said.
