Surge in Teen Crime: Victoria Records Highest Weekly Offence Rate Since 2009
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Victoria Witnesses Unprecedented Spike in Teen Crime, Reaching Peak Weekly Offence Rate Since 2009

Police have shared that culprits admit to searching for an unlocked door or window by walking up and down streets.

In Victoria, teenagers are committing crimes at a rate not seen since 2009, with 360 incidents happening every week. The police are particularly worried about these young individuals targeting homes with unlocked doors and windows, aiming to gain fame on social media platforms.

Last year, teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 were responsible for 18,729 crimes, marking a significant increase of 29.4 percent from the previous year. This data was highlighted in a report by the Victoria police.

These crimes weren’t minor; they included repeated offenses such as assaults, which saw an increase of 531 incidents, totaling 3,823. Burglaries were up by 788, reaching 2,221 incidents. Car thefts and robberies also saw significant jumps, with 1,703 and 1,652 incidents reported, respectively.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has pointed out that young people are at the forefront of these aggravated burglaries. He shared that nearly 5,900 teenagers confessed to roaming the streets looking for an opportunity to enter through an unlocked door or window.

Patton explained that the thrill of social media recognition and the desire for notoriety are driving many young people to engage in these crimes. He mentioned how they sneak into homes, usually unlocked, to steal car keys and then take the cars.

He also spoke on ABC Radio Melbourne about the challenge of curbing these burglaries, emphasizing that it would require a considerable effort. Despite the police’s determination to reduce these crimes, Patton does not foresee an immediate decrease due to various factors affecting the community.

The state government is working on reforms to combat crime, including plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 and eventually to 14 by 2027. This decision is backed by medical evidence suggesting that very young children might not fully grasp the severity of their actions.

It has been observed that younger children who are sentenced are more likely to re-offend as adults, with their crimes becoming more frequent and violent. Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes stressed the importance of responding effectively and compassionately to young children’s harmful behavior while ensuring they are held accountable.

However, opposition police spokesman Brad Battin believes that now is not the right time to raise the age of criminal responsibility, given the current crime statistics. He argues that a Liberal and national government would better support the police force and increase its numbers to tackle the crime wave effectively.

Battin has pointed out that police numbers are declining, which he claims is a fact. He believes the police are doing their best but lack the necessary resources.

A Productivity Commission report highlighted that the number of police officers per 100,000 people in Victoria has decreased, contributing to a significant rise in car thefts. In 2023, car thefts surged by 9,000 incidents from the previous year, averaging about 156 offenses daily.

In one incident, three teenagers were charged after allegedly stealing a Ford Fiesta and a Renault, fueling them at a petrol station, and then fleeing without paying. The police chase ended with the Ford crashing and rolling, leading to charges against the teens involved.

Youth crime is not just a problem in Victoria but is also felt in other states. Queensland reported an increase in young offenders, with 10,878 individuals aged 10 to 17 recorded in 2022–23. This represents a 6 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. All Australian states and territories, except the Northern Territory, have seen a rise in youth offenders during the same period.