By Justin Jenvey
CRIME statistics in Myrtleford have stayed the same as they were 12 months ago according to the most recent report.
Figures released by the Crime Agency Statistics last week, for the year ending December 31, showed there were 287 offences recorded in the town in 2020, the same as in 2019.
While the total number of offences remained the same there were significant drops in the total number of property and deception offences and crimes against the person.
Assaults, stalking and harassment, and dangerous and negligent acts all dropped while there was one less assault recorded.
There was a significant drop in the number of thefts recorded as figures plummeted from 72 offences in 2019 to 42 in 2020.
Burglary and break and enters also dropped by almost half from 11 offences to six, with property damage offences also taking a major dip from 26 to 16 offences.
Public order and security offences and justice procedure offences all rose to keep the overall crime figure the same, with weapons and explosives crimes jumping rapidly from five offences in 2019 to 32 in the latest recording period.
Breaches of orders also increased in a big way as the total number of offences jumped from 62 to 91 over 12 months.
In Bright crime increased slightly with 115 offences recorded in the town in 2020 compared to 102 the previous year, while over in the Kiewa Valley the toal number of offences in Mt Beauty dropped from 31 to 25.
Overall the Alpine Shire totalled 584 offences in 2020, a 2.5 per cent increase from 570 recorded in 2019.
The offences rate per 100,000 population for the Alpine Shire was 4541, well below the Victorian average of 8177.
