MORNINGTON Peninsula’s official crime rate has risen by 24 per cent in the past year, with a surge in thefts from motor vehicles being a primary driver. The rise, which was revealed in the latest Crime Statistics Agency data released on 19 June, was higher than the statewide increase in crime (up 15 per cent in the past 12 months) with Victoria Police making a record number of arrests – equivalent to 208 a day.
On the peninsula, residential non-aggravated burglary, theft, breach of family violence intervention order, retail theft, and car theft offences all soared in the year ending in March. Theft from motor vehicles, alone, was up 50 per cent from last year with 1370 offences compared to 908 offences the previous year. The highest percentage crime incidents jump recorded occurred in Hastings (up 40 per cent), Dromana (up 37 per cent), Somerville (up 24 per cent), Rosebud (up 14 per cent), and Mornington (up 18 per cent).
Victoria Police noted theft from retail stores continued to hit record highs amid cost-of-living pressures, with alcohol theft having “never been higher”. “Police are also aware of organised groups of shop stealers working together to steal goods and on-sell them for a profit,” it said.
Motor vehicle theft was also at the highest levels since 2002, Victoria Police said, with more than one in five cars stolen where the owner reports retaining their keys. This has coincided with an increase in offenders using electronic devices capable of programming or mimicking keys to steal cars, police said. Holdens, Toyotas, and Subarus were among the most stolen or targeted with push-start technology. “Police urge owners of these vehicles to look at preventative measures to help deter thieves, including an on-board diagnostic port lock which prevents an offender connecting a reprogramming device to your vehicle,” Victoria Police said.
Family violence order breaches also increased statewide, which were mostly committed by offenders using mobile phones and social media to target victims, police said.
Child crime (10-17) remained at the highest levels with police making 3300 arrests of the “worst youth offenders” over the past year as part of Operation Trinity (home burglaries and car thefts) and Operation Alliance (youth gangs).
Victoria Police said the Crime Statistics Agency did not specifically record the number of knife related offences, which was recorded more broadly under prohibited and controlled weapons offences which included items such as knuckle dusters, batons and tasers. On the peninsula, there were 98 recorded prohibited and controlled weapons offences in the past 12 months, compared to 96 incidents the previous year.
Victoria Police also noted overall crime at the state’s 13 biggest shopping complexes had increased “year-on-year”.
“There is no doubt overall crime is higher than both the community and police would like,” Acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said. “That’s why every police officer is working tirelessly to reduce crime and hold criminals accountable – as they did in these twelve months with a record 75,968 arrests.’
Mornington MP Chris Crewther expressed deep concern over the latest crime statistics, describing them as a “worrying picture” for Victoria. “Locals are definitely feeling the impact of rising theft and break-ins, particularly home break-ins and car theft, whether it’s in Mornington, Mt Eliza, Mt Martha or elsewhere,” he said. “This crime problem can no longer be ignored, and the Labor government needs to take action. “We need stronger frontline policing with more police on the ground here on the peninsula. We need our reception hours increased, we need to fill the 1100 police officer gap and to help that we need better carrots and sticks.”
Crewther said this included better use of intervention programs to “prevent crimes in the first place, but also known and tougher consequences, particularly for repeat offenders because our community deserves to feel safe at home and in public”.
Hastings MP Paul Mercurio said “any crime is unacceptable” and the state government would continue to introduce tough new laws to crack down on offenders.
“This includes the toughest bail laws in the country – putting community safety above all and delivering consequences for those who break the laws,” he said, noting the recent crime statistics were recorded before the bail reform came into effect.
“These laws are working, with an increase in remand numbers – and more bail changes to come next month,” he said, with further measures including electronic monitoring for youth offenders.
“We will continue to ensure our laws put community safety above all and back the important work of Victoria Police.”
Mercurio said there are 46 more young people on remand in youth justice for June compared to a year ago, an increase of 100 per cent.
There were also 609 more adults on remand in Victorian prisons this month compared to June last year, an increase of 31 per cent, he said.
“This week we introduced post and boast laws to ensure offenders who brag about their crimes on social media face extra jail time – because crime isn’t content,” he said.
“We’ve given police expanded knife search powers, we’ve ordered machetes off shelves to choke their supply, and a ban on their possession will start from 1 September.”
First published in the Mornington News – 24 June 2025
