New data from the Crime Statistics Agency obtained by the Herald Sun reveals shopping centres in Melbourne’s CBD, which include Melbourne Central, had the highest level of crime with 614 offences between January to December 2021. These included 495 property and deception offences, 52 crimes against a person, which can include assault related offences and 27 public order and security offences. Preston, which includes Northland Shopping Centre, recorded the second highest number of incidents with 462 offences, while Eastland in Ringwood came in third with 357 offences.Offences at shopping centres by suburbMalvern East, home of Chadstone, had 315 offences including 245 property and deception offences and 37 crimes against a person. The overall amount of crime at all Victorian shopping centres dropped significantly in the past year compared to the previous five years due to Covid limiting people’s movements.The data also shows crime in Narre Warren, which includes Westfield Fountain Gate, had also decreased, with only 253 offences compared to 799 in 2019 and 386 in 2020. Victoria Police was forced to deploy patrols on horseback around the shopping centre in 2019 after a spate of assaults.But crime overall at Casey shopping centres was the highest with 858 offences, while Melbourne had 810 offences and Greater Geelong 712. In Casey, there were 588 property and deception offences and 76 assault related offences. In Melbourne and Geelong, property and deception crimes were also high with 660 and 532 offences recorded. Overall, the vast majority of offences were property and deception offences, low-level drug offences or low-level public order offences.A Victoria Police spokesman said it was “very pleasing” to see overall crime at shopping centres across the state at low levels, with total crime at five year lows in areas with large shopping centres. “Victoria Police is also encouraged by decreases to crimes committed against the person at shopping centres, such as robberies and assaults,” the spokesman said. “Serious and violent crimes such as these were at five year lows at shopping centres across Melbourne, Narre Warren, Hoppers Crossing, Wantirna South and Frankston.“It is important to understand that the overwhelming majority of all crimes committed at shopping centres are property and deception offences, such as someone stealing from a shop or using a lost credit card they found to purchase items.” The spokesman said of all crimes committed at metropolitan Melbourne shopping centres last year, more than 10 per cent were crimes against the person.“Despite the significant decrease in crime at shopping centres, the community can rest assured their local police will be doing everything possible to keep offending from occurring. “This will include regular patrols at local shopping centres to prevent crime from occurring and keep everyone safe, including in peak times, such as school holidays.”
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