Cessnock has recorded a significant decrease in property offences over the past two years, but remains among the worst areas in the state for motor vehicle theft.
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According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research's latest quarterly report, property offences are down 17.2 percent in the Cessnock local government area in the two years to June 2020.
An 34.3 percent drop in steal from retail store offences was recorded in that time period, with steal from motor vehicle (down 29.1 percent) and break and enter dwelling (down 15.5 percent) also significantly lower.
No significant change in the break and enter non-dwelling, motor vehicle theft, steal from dwelling, fraud and malicious damage to property categories, or any of the violent crime categories, was recorded in Cessnock in that two-year period.
While remaining stable, Cessnock's rate of motor vehicle theft is one of the worst in NSW at 2.9 times the state average, with 269 incidents in the 12 months to June 2020.
Cessnock is ranked equal-third with Moree Plains for motor vehicle theft, behind Wentworth (3.5) and Coonamble (3.2).
Cessnock also had double the state average for steal from dwelling incidents, and 2.5 times the rate of break-and-enter non-dwelling offences in that 12-month period.
- Read more: Spike in theft from cars
- Read more: Cessnock second-worst in NSW for motor vehicle theft offences
- Read more: Car theft remains a huge problem
Cessnock Police Station officer-in-charge, Chief Inspector Michael Gorman said local police face a "continuing battle", particularly against car thieves.
He said police will continue to focus on targeting motor vehicle thieves, while assessing problem areas and devising with strategies to try and address them.
Chief Inspector Gorman said the high rate of break-and-enter non-dwelling offences could be attributed to COVID, as many businesses were closed from March to June this year.
He said the reduction in homes being broken into could also be COVID-related, as more people have been at home throughout the day.
Chief Inspector Gorman was happy with the overall reduction in property offences.
"There will always be peaks and troughs, but to see an extended reduction in areas that have been problems areas for Cessnock is pleasing," he said.
"But because levels have been high, it has been a constant focus for us.
"It is a continuing battle, but it is pleasing to see some positive results from the strategies that we are putting in place."
Meanwhile, construction of Cessnock's new police station is progressing well, and is set to be complete by March 2021. Read more here.
Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
