Crime stats show crime predominately stable or falling

In a win for police, virtually all major crime categories in the 12 months leading up to December 2020 are either stable or falling.

Domestic violence figures were almost identical, 238 incidents reported in 2019 compared to 236 in 2020, non DV assaults fell from 253 to 223 in the same period.

Indecent assaults fell from 63 to 53, sexual assault fell marginally 68 to 66 and robbery without a weapon fell from nine in 2019 to zero in 2020.

But the big wins for police and the community were break and enter dwelling, which fell rom 285 in 2019 to 220 in 2020, and steal from motor vehicle which fell from 185 in 2019 to 133 in 2020.

Steal from retail store also fell from 166 to 99.

Chifley's highest ranking officer, Supt Peter O'Brien said while the figures are promising, police won't be sitting back.

"Crime is a continual cycle, you can't relax, that's the nature of policing."

He said figures around home security and property theft, which dropped around 25 per cent compared to the year previous, were encouraging.

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He said the message about home security and personal security seems to be getting through.

"Police are always plugging it; secure your homes, lock your doors, don't leave valuables or your keys in your car to the point we sound like a broken record.

"But what we are seeing is people are really listening.

"We're seeing people are investing in CCTV for their homes, and doing things that make their home a hard target.

"They are locking their doors and their cars, and making it harder for criminals.

Supt O'Brien said CCTV and other home security is affordable and accessible, and said it acts as a major deterrent to would be criminals.

"If your home looks secure, its too hard for them and they'll move on to somewhere else," he said.

He said the problem was often people only install the security after the fact.

He said the home building industry was really good giving people security advice; the best locks to get for their doors and CCTV.

"It really is all about making it harder for the criminals," he said.

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