CRIME statistics released by WA Police have revealed alarming increases in the number of home burglaries, car theft and graffiti in the suburb of Mandurah.
Home burglary is up by 34.0 per cent, car theft by 17.3 per cent and graffiti by 15.4 per cent for the 2015 calendar year, when compared to the previous year.
Opposition police spokeswoman Michelle Roberts slammed the state government’s crime strategy on Monday, saying Police Minister Liza Harvey was more focused on “PR stunts”.
“The new policing model has failed and it’s time for Liza Harvey go back to the drawing board,” Mrs Roberts said.
“We need a new approach to reducing crime in WA and the Liberals are completely out of ideas.”
Mrs Harvey on Sunday announced an advertising campaign encouraging Western Australians to keep their doors and windows locked to thwart burglars.
“One-third of home burglaries and other property theft, such as valuables from cars, occur where doors and windows have been left unlocked or valuable items left in full view,” she said.
“This campaign will remind the community they can join with police officers, and have a serious impact, in making it tougher for crooks.”
However, Mrs Roberts criticised the announcement.
“While the Police Minister is spending $500,000 of taxpayers’ money on an advertising campaign to tell people to lock their front doors, we’re seeing huge spikes in crimes like motor vehicle theft, home burglary and non-business robbery,” she said.
“We need a government that is prepared to roll up their sleeves and provide our police with the resources they need to bring crime back under control.”
Mrs Roberts said crime across the metropolitan area, which includes Mandurah for the purposes of police statistics, had recorded its seventh double-digit monthly increase in crime, with an increase of 14 per cent in December alone.
To view Mandurah's crime statistics, go to police.wa.gov.au/Crime/Statistics
