Theft from retail store and indecent assault is on the decrease in the Wingecarribee.
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There were fewer major crimes committed in the Wingecarribee the year leading up to September, than the year prior to that according to a NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report released on Thursday.
The most significant declines were recorded in the break and enter (dwellings), indecent assault and retail store theft.
Break and enter (dwellings) was down from 106 cases to 80.
Steal from retail store plummeted from 98 to 43 and there were 20 cases of indecent assault compared to 58 the year before.
There were no murders this year, or last year to September.
Most alarmingly, non-domestic violence related assaults have risen from 96 to 122 cases this year.
Domestic violence cases have risen from 121 to 132 and NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller APM said while police remain optimistic, there is a great deal of work ahead to combat this crime.
“Continuing to work with victims is a priority, but we also need to urge the community to come forward and help,” Commissioner Fuller said.
Commissioner Fuller said new strategies allow officers to place greater emphasis on perpetrators and hold them more accountable.
“For a long time, modern law enforcement has focused just on victims of domestic violence, which is entirely appropriate, but the perpetrators are the ones who need to be held to account,” he said.
“Protection of victims is paramount and, I will continue working towards reducing domestic violence offences in NSW.
Sexual assault cases have also slightly decreased from 20 to 24, as has robbery with a weapon (not a firearm) from two to no cases.
Steal from a person is down from seven to four counts, as is vehicle theft from 46 to 41 counts.
There has been a slight increase in fraud from 155 to 156 and malicious damage to property has risen from 361 to 363.
Steal from a dwelling has increased from 116 to 125 cases while steal from a vehicle has dropped from 112 to 95 counts.
There were no robberies with a firearm this year or last year to September.
Break and enter (non-dwelling) also had a slight jump from 70 to 75 cases and robbery without a weapon has increased byone case from two to three.
Statewide, there has been a reduction in the following major crime categories:
· Domestic violence related assault - down 3.5 per cent
· Break and enter – dwelling - down 7.8 per cent
· Break and enter – non-dwelling - down 5.8 per cent
· Steal from dwelling - down 5.7 per cent
· Steal from person - down 11.1 per cent
· Fraud - down 8.5 per cent
· Malicious damage to property - down 2.7 per cent