PROPERTY crime has taken a tumble, with proactive policing measures and targeted resource deployment resulting in eight major crime categories falling in the past 12 months.
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Of 17 crime categories, just three increased, and even then only marginally; non domestic violence (DV) related assaults were up from 237 to 254 and steal from retail which increased from 124 to 170.
Indecent assaults were up from 61 to 66.
Among the categories to fall were DV related assaults, down from 231 to 227, sex assaults down from 49 to 46, break and enter dwelling fell from 251 to 235, motor vehicle theft fell from 72 to 61, steal from motor vehicle fell from 321 to 170, steal from dwelling fell from 133 to 113, steal from person fell from 29 to 21 and fraud fell from 289 to 237. All other categories remained stable.
The stats, released by the Bureau of Crime, Statistics and Research, released on Thursday, compare the 12-month period leading into September 2018 to the following year.
Acting Superintendent of Chifley Police District, David Abercrombie, said overall Bathurst was well positioned.
"Nothing stands out as an obvious concern, most categories are either stable or falling," he said.
Supt Abercrombie said when it comes to crime stats, police look at longer term trends; and in the last five years Chifley has seen a downward trend across most categories indicating taskings and resource deployment "are where they need to be."
Supt Abercrombie commended the work of Chifley's Crime Management Unit, which he said had undertaken proactive policing work which is now being reflected in reduced crime figures.
"The significant drop in fraud we've seen can be directly contributed to the proactive work done by the Crime Management Unit.
"Fraud is being identified as an issue everywhere, in particular the theft of credit cards then used in pay wave offences. But our Crime Management Unit are very proactive, especially with retail outlets and getting the message out in forums and on social media, getting people to protect themselves."
He said police were also working hard to target recidivist offenders.
"We are getting it right, targeting the people who are committing the offences, and they are where they should be...... in jail."
He said when it comes to targeting offenders timely information from the community cannot be underestimated.
"You are our eyes and ears. We can't be everywhere but if they tell us something is happening we will be there."
