Car thefts increase despite drop in overall ACT crime rates
There has been a rise in the number of car thefts in the ACT, despite an overall decrease in the number of crimes reported in the past year.
ACT police have released their end-of-year statistics, which show 28,105 crimes were reported in Canberra in 2014, compared to 29,695 in 2013.
Despite the 5 per cent drop in the overall crime rate, there was an increase in car thefts of nearly 10 per cent, and burglaries rose nearly 7 per cent.
Reports of sexual assault dropped nearly 35 per cent, while assault dropped by 11 per cent.
The amount of criminal reports also fluctuated by region, with three southern districts recording a calendar year increase in crime for the first time in six years.
Crime in Woden increased by 9 per cent, as was the case in Tuggeranong (5 per cent) and Weston Creek (0.9 per cent).
But Acting Deputy Chief Police Officer Justine Gough said the increase in crime in the south of the city was not reflected across the ACT.
"While we've seen a slight increase in some of the southern districts, the prevailing trend has been a drop in reports," she said.
The northern suburbs of Gungahlin (12 per cent) and Belconnen (10 per cent) registered a significant decrease in crime.
"While Canberra has continued to grow, geographically and in population, crime reports have declined, contributing to our reputation as one of Australia's safest cities," Ms Gough said.
She said the reduction in crime was due to Government initiatives and effective community policing.
"These statistics all feed into our intelligence-led policing model and allow us to allocate resources and respond to shifting priorities," she added.
