House break-ins have dropped to their lowest monthly rate for more than a year, the latest South Australian crime statistics have revealed.
While the rolling year crime statistics to May show 5,832 offences were reported to police – an increase of 88 offences or 2% over the corresponding period – the statistics reveal there was a decrease of 100 offences from April, with 411 offences reported in May.
It is the lowest monthly figure reported for the rolling year period.
Police say the decrease in reported offences can be attributed to the continued targeting of recidivist offenders and those handling the proceeds of such crime.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the benefits of targeting those committing the bulk of this crime was “clearly evident.’’
“We know that the majority of volume crimes such as house breaking are carried out by a relatively small cohort of individuals and this is frequently linked to illicit drug use,’’ said Commissioner Stevens.
“Proactive policing operations targeting these individuals results in more apprehensions, less crime being committed, and less harm being inflicted on the community.
“Our ability to commit resources to these proactive police operations is impacted by the competing demands on police to investigate other types of volume crime.’’
The latest crime statistics reveal the number of petrol theft incidents assessed as meeting the criteria for investigation increased by 2% – or 160 incidents – from 8,163 to 8,323 incidents over the rolling year. This followed a 6% increase in the April 2023 to April 2024 period.
In recent weeks, Commissioner Stevens has highlighted the impact petrol theft is having on competing police priorities and preventing police from undertaking proactive operations.
This increasing demand is reflected in the 15% increase in family and domestic abuse related offending reported in the latest statistics – from 11,045 offences to 12,658 offences. This rise followed a 13% increase in the April 2023 to April 2024 rolling year figures.
The May rolling year crime statistics also reveal that theft and related offending increased by 5% over the period, largely driven by the expected high rates of shop theft and petrol theft.
Theft from shops increased by 15% during the period, from 15,957 offences to 18,419 offences. This increase followed a 23% rise in such offending recorded in the previous period.
SA Police say they are continuing to proactively work with retailers to combat the problem and the ongoing Operation Measure initiative has successfully resulted in the activities of numerous recidivist offenders being charged with multiple offences following targeted operations.
The crime statistics reveal sexual assault and related offences decreased by 6% during the period with aggravated sexual assault down 4%, non-assaultive sexual offences down 21%.
Fraud, deception and related offending decreased by 33%, from 6,269 offences to 4,206 offences. This followed a 35% decrease in the previous period.
Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 7% – 770 offences – from 10,331 offences to 9,561 offences while receiving or handling the proceeds of crime increased by 32% – or 506 offences – from 1,568 offences to 2,074 offences.
