The relentless targeting of recidivist offenders has resulted in residential and non-residential break-ins declining significantly in South Australia over the past financial year, the latest crime statistics have revealed.
The June rolling year crime statistics also reveal robbery, theft and fraud related offences have also continued to record notable decreases.
Acting Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) John De Candia said proactive policing strategies had resulted in some significant clear-ups of recent crime sprees.
"In some cases the alleged offenders have been responsible for many incidents that have distressed homeowners or financially impacted multiple businesses that have been targeted,'' he said.
"We will continue to identify, target and arrest those we believe are responsible for a significant proportion of crime that impacts the community.''
In a significant breakthrough Eastern District CIB last month arrested a man, 42, and a woman, 30, both of Banksia Park, and charged them with multiple counts of serious criminal trespass in connection with break-ins at businesses in the Modbury shopping precinct.
The businesses targeted included hardware, camping and outdoor stores, with entry gained through the roof. In five break-ins between March 30 and July 13 this year numerous items were stolen from each business.
When detectives searched the Banksia Park home stolen goods worth almost $14,000 were located.
In an unrelated case a man, 35, of Goodwood was arrested last month and charged with 33 offences in connection with a crime series that occurred between April 10 and June 29 this year. The charges include serious criminal trespass, theft, illegal use of a motor vehicle, fuel theft, driving offences and drug offences.
The June rolling year figures show house break-ins recorded a 10 per cent decline in the period – from 5,773 to 5,220 offences – or 553 fewer incidents reported. This followed a 10 per cent decrease in the May period, 11 per cent in April, eight per cent in March and seven per cent in February.
Non-residential break-ins recorded a seven per cent decrease with 258 fewer offences reported – from 3,657 to 3,399. This followed a nine per cent drop in the May period, seven per cent in April and five per cent reductions in March and February.
Shop theft recorded another decrease in the June rolling year period with a six per cent decline reported – 18,343 to 17,225 offences – which is attributed to ongoing proactive operations. This is the eighth successive decline in reported shoplifting offences.
Car theft also continued to fall in the period with a six per cent reduction reported – 3,681 to 3,469 offences. Theft from a vehicle recorded a 19 per cent reduction – from 9,364 to 7,553 offences. Similar falls were reported in the previous four reporting periods.
Robbery and related offences recorded an 11 per cent decline in offences reported in the period – 92 offences. Within that category aggravated robbery decreased by 14 per cent – 492 offences to 421 offences.
Acts intended to cause injury, which includes serious assault resulting in injury and common assault, increased by three per cent in the rolling year period from 23,632 to 24,285 incidents reported.
