Crime in Ocean Grove remained steady this year according to figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) on Thursday.
For the 12 months ending September 30, the statewide average of criminal offences fell by 4.3 per cent, the lowest level since 2005.
In Ocean Grove, overall criminal offences increased slightly from 331 to 337.
Crimes against the person fell from 87 to 61.
Stealing from motor vehicle offences rose from 36 to 46 while breach of family violence orders also increased by 50 per cent.
Overall, Ocean Grove remained a safe place to live with drugs and weapons offences being almost nonexistent.
Barwon Heads saw an increase in crime from 115 offences last year to 147, however violent crime levels remained very low.
The rise in offences were attributed mainly to criminal damage and minor theft.
It was a similar story in Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Curlewis with crime rising from 352 incidents to 399.
In the Northern Bellarine, Portarlington and St Leonards saw a major decrease in crime from 308 incidents to 237, although Indented Head from 24 to 45 with crimes against the person increasing by 150 per cent.
Point Lonsdale remained steady although Queenscliff’s figures doubled mostly due to theft from a motor vehicle and criminal damage.
CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said that “the notable decreases in recorded crime levels during the COVID-19 pandemic period have contributed to the lowest Victorian criminal incident rates since 2005”.
“Decreases in Breaches of Chief Health Officer public orders are the main driver of the decrease in alleged offender incidents in the last 12 months, with offences for Breaches of Chief Health Officer directions related to the COVID-19 pandemic measures peaking during 2020,” Ms Dowsley said.
