Head of the city’s safety committee Ballarat mayor Des Hudson has congratulated the community for helping police arrest offenders.

The Courier shared six images of alleged offenders Victoria Police were keen to apprehend. In a 24 hour period that story reached 13,500 unique browsers and 85,400 page views. On social media platforms it was shared 320 times and reached more than  34,000.

“The uptake by the community clearly shows the community willingness to support local police in their endeavours,” Cr Hudson said. 

 “(Sharing that information) really increases the reach of that information and shows that people can identify who police are looking for.

“On the other hand, it promotes people to turn themselves into police.” 

New RACV data, which they say is sourced from police statistics,  shows Ballarat and Moorabool, which spans postcodes including Bacchus Marsh, Lal Lal and Meredith, are among the 10 riskiest locations for burglary in Victoria and the five riskiest in regional Victoria.

That data shows one in 45 Ballarat houses are burgled, compared to the state average of one in 67.

Victoria Police’s Western Region community engagement and prevention inspector Jamie Templeton said police were seeing increases in high-volume crimes such as a theft of, and from, motor vehicle. 

“What we are seeing, across the state, is high increases in high-volume crimes such as theft, of, and from, motor vehicles,” he said.

Cr Hudson said the partnership was a great example of how “the community can buy into helping police and council make the community safer”. Superintendent Andrew Allen lauded the campaign a success .

“We are very grateful to those members of the community who have assisted providing information leading to the arrests of three wanted people so far.”