Schools, sporting clubs and businesses still a target, according to latest crime stats

A Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) quarterly report released this week found break and enter (non-dwelling) was one of three categories to show a significant spike.

Other crime categories to rise included murder (zero in the 2015 figures up to two for 2016) and motor vehicle thefts, which rose from 75 in June 2015 to 105 in June 2016.

But the break and enters at businesses, schools and sporting clubs remained the region’s biggest issue with 179 incidents reported to police 2016, compared to 118 just 12 months earlier.

Chifley Local Area Command crime manager Inspector Luke Rankin said overall he was content with the crime statistics. 

“Crime is generally stable in Bathurst and across the rest of our command,” Inspector Rankin said.

“Throughout the last 12 months there have certainly been challenges in specific crime reporting areas, though I believe our response to those challenges has been effective and this is supported by the BOCSAR data.”

Inspector Rankin acknowledged break and enters at non-residential premises were up, mainly as a result of spikes in this crime category between July and August in 2015 and then again between January and February 2016. 

“One or two active offenders can have a major impact upon our annual statistics in this area,” he said.

Regarding motor vehicle theft, Inspector Rankin said many of the stolen vehicles were not cars.

“A lot are trailbikes and other unregistered vehicles and, unfortunately, our rural community who rely on vehicles like these for their livelihood have been victims in this crime category,” he said.   

In relation to the murders, Inspector Rankin said the Nadia Cameron case would go to inquest while the Reginald Mullaly murder investigation was ongoing.

“There is a very committed team of detectives who are actively investigating Reg's murder,” he said.