Forbes saw a sudden increase in thefts from dwellings last year, the recently-released NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) report reveals.
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The report includes data for the two years up to September 2019, with the number of incidents trending upwards from 10 reports in June to 14 in September.
That was a fairly significant increase from the four to five a month for the same period a year earlier.
Inspector Shane Jessep says the sudden increase was in opportunistic crime, with numerous items stolen from local front yards.
These ranged from garden ornaments to pots and Christmas lights, and a large number of these types of items were recovered in a single event in November.
Local police urge a few security tips to avoid falling prey to this type of opportunistic crime.
- Lock up your house when you are not there, including windows, sheds and garages
- Don't leave items lying around in yards (such as bicycles, expensive toys, tools, etc) when you are not using them
- Install a CCTV system around your house
- Ensure all perimeter fences are in good order and gates are kept closed
- Trim trees and shrubs from around doors and windows so as not to provide concealment to intruders and increase visibility to and from the street
- Record make/model/serial number of items, including bicycles and power tools
The BOCSAR statistics for the quarter also reveal there has been a drop in the number of break-ins on non-dwellings.
There was just one a month reported August and September, after peaks of nine to 12 a month a year earlier.
Thefts from vehicles also saw a pretty significant drop in the two-year reporting period: just three and four reported in August and September respectively and none in the two months before that.
Break-and-enter reports on dwellings were pretty stable, there were 64 in the year to September 2018 and 66 in the year to September 2019.
Over the quarter, 36 people were charged with possession or use of cannabis, 15 with possession of use of amphetamines and 17 with possession or use of ecstasy.
As always, anyone who has information that could assist police with their investigations into local crime can contact the Forbes station on 6853 9999.
