BATHURST has some of the lowest crime figures in the region with all major crime categories falling, according to the latest statistics.
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Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research was released on Thursday, with the city’s top cop welcoming the results.
Among the crime categories to fall in Bathurst in the 12 months leading up to June 2017, include murder, domestic violence related assaults, sexual assaults, robbery without a weapon, robbery with a weapon (not a firearm) break and enter dwelling, motor vehicle theft, steal from retail store and steal from dwelling.
Welcoming the results, Acting Superintendent Luke Rankin said officers across the command were working diligently for the community they serve and the results are continuing to reflect their hard work.
Statistically, Bathurst was one of the safest cities in the region in the 12 months to June 2017.
There were 314 reports of break enters in the city, down from 334 and well below the 375 recorded in Orange and 569 in Dubbo.
The incidence of motor vehicle theft is also much lower in Bathurst, which recorded 75 cards stolen in the 12-month period ending June 2017 compared to 106 the year before.
By comparison, in the 12 months leading up to June 2017, there were 137 cars stolen in Orange and 191 in Dubbo.
Bathurst again had the best statistics of the three when it came to thefts from motor vehicle. The city recorded 317 incidents, compared to Orange with 337.
Dubbo had a staggering 653 incidents reported.
One area however, which remains a thorn in the side of Bathurst police, is fraud.
In the 12-months leading up to June 2017, there were 274 incidents reported to Bathurst police, compared to 216 the year before.
Supt Rankin said the spike was due to ever-increasing reports of Paywave or point-of-sale incidents and internet scams.
“Unfortunately we continue to see members of the community falling victim to scams perpetrated through the internet - for instance, people responding to phishing emails or paying bogus fines or invoices,” he said.
Supt Rankin said typically, victims were from the older generation.
He urged people to protect themselves by looking at the ACCC Scamwatch website and being informed on how overseas crooks were trying to access people’s money.
Another area of concern for police was an increase in malicious damage to property, which increased from 537 in 2016 to 622 incidents in the 12-months leading up to June 2017.
