MORE than 600 cases of malicious damage to property were reported in Bathurst last year, but Bathurst Regional Council says it is working hard to fight the trend.
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There were 614 cases of malicious damage reported to police in 2013, according to recent Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data.
Bathurst Regional Council is a member of the Bathurst Community Safety Committee, and member Janelle Middleton said the group is targeting four specific crimes.
“The top four crimes are malicious damage to property, steal from motor vehicle, assault non-domestic violence [related] and break and enter dwelling,” she said.
BOCSAR data showed an increase in cases of malicious damage over the last 12 months, from 545 in 2012 to 614 in 2013 (up 12.7 per cent), while the other three crimes recorded a drop.
Break and enter dwelling dropped from 352 to 327 (down 7.1 per cent), assault non-domestic violence related dropped from 302 to 284 (down 6.0 per cent) and steal from motor vehicle dropped from 342 to 297 (down 13.2 per cent).
“We’re trying to look at prevention of these crimes,” Ms Middleton said.
One of the committee’s strategies is to issue Bathurst hotels with coasters and brochures to inform their patrons that malicious damage is a crime, and to ask people to report it.
She said the increase in malicious damage cases is a good sign their strategy is working.
“If the reported incidents go up that means our program is working,” she said.
“Often malicious damage is unreported, like a broken letterbox. We want to let people know malicious damage is a crime and also get people to report it.”
Other members of the safety committee include Charles Sturt University, Bathurst Liquor Accord, police, councillors and Bathurst Business Chamber.
Bathurst Liquor Accord president Robert ‘Stumpy’ Taylor said there has been another push for people to be more aware of malicious damage, and its consequences, in the lead-up to Anzac Day.
“I hope it makes them aware of the consequences of malicious damage,” he said.
Despite the recent BOCSAR data, Mrs Middleton said overall the city is still very safe.
“Bathurst is a very safe place to live in in comparison to other cities.”