Bacchus Marsh Senior Sergeant Jim Lappin said the current trend of offenders torching and stealing cars largely led to the 84.1 per cent arson spike in the Moorabool PSA in 2016. 

“Ultimately and unfortunately a disproportionately high number of our theft incidents are directly attributed to unlocked vehicles, buildings, sheds and unsecured trailers,” Senior Sergeant Lappin said.   

Senior Sergeant Lappin said this trend was particularly concerning during the fire danger period. 

“We had one the other day, and in the current conditions it was easily put out, but if it was drier it could have spread,” Senior Sergeant Lappin said.

“(The main driver of theft) is still unlocked cars and unlocked garages.” 

Anecdotally, he said actual car theft had remained relatively stable but torching cars was far more common.

Senior Sergeant Lappin said many offenders were the same offenders who committed crimes in Ballarat and Geelong.

He said they moved readily and easily through different areas. 

“This method of burning cars – that’s increasing,” Senior Sergeant Lappin said. 

Moorabool’s property damage increased nearly 35 per cent while theft was up 13 per cent. 

“Community members need to be conscious about locking their vehicle, protecting and hiding their valuables by locking their back doors and their garage doors,” Senior Sergeant Lappin said.

“They need to be mindful of where they are keeping their vehicles.” 

Senior Sergeant Lappin said the region’s 25 per cent assault increase was largely driven by family violence.

He said police tried to intervene early to minimise the impact of potential violence on the family unit, while also promoting and connecting vulnerable people to the many support services available across all of government.