The latest quarterly crime figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) revealed that while most of the 17 major crime categories remained stable in the Moree Plains Local Government Area (LGA) over the 24 months to September 2017, break-ins to businesses had risen 72.7 per cent and vehicle theft increased by 57.8 per cent over the two-year period.

However in the 12 months to September 2017, all but two of the 17 crime categories saw an increase in Moree.

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Domestic violence-related assaults and indecent assaults were the only categories which recorded a drop over the 12-month period, down by 18 and 19 incidents respectively.

Meanwhile, robberies without a weapon and with a firearm as well as thefts from persons all tripled.

Barwon Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector David Silversides said while these categories tripled, numbers were low to begin with, which could be indicative of one person or a group of individuals who have come to the area during the year.

“There are a number of investigations that are ongoing by Moree detectives,” he said.

“A number of offenders are wanted on warrants for related matters; we’re continuing to hunt those people down.

“Some have been charged and there are warrants outstanding and investigations ongoing.”

According to the data, 168 more houses were broken into and 88 more businesses were hit in the 12-month period.

Malicious damage to property across the council area was also up by more than 100 incidents.

Det. Insp. Silversides said over the past few months there has been a number of aggravated break and enters which have caused a lot of concern in the community, particularly the incident in which a 79-year-old woman was injured during a home invasion.

He’d like to reassure the community that investigations are ongoing and a number of lines of enquiries are being pursued.

Barwon Local Area Command currently have their sights set on clamping down on rising crime, with a particular focus on targeting property offences, mostly committed by young people, as part of Operation Claymore 2. 

“Operation Claymore 2 is continuing,” Det. Insp. Silversides said.

“We have ongoing deployments in place for that operation. The target of that is property offences, child at risk, public order, driving, drug offences. We’re utilising various powers - move-ons, people searches, vehicle searches, RBT.”

As well as utilising various resources from within the command and outside to reduce property-related crime, Det. Insp. Silversides said police are working wth other government and non-government agencies to address underlying social drivers of crime, with a focus on young people.

“We’re concerned by the number of young people left unsupervised on the streets of Moree,” he said.

“We’re working closely around youth crime, engaging with not only youths themselves but support agencies and families.

“It’s a multi-agency approach.”

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Det. Insp. Silversides said if police identify children at risk in public areas, they’re able to take the child into their care and return them to the family home or a responsible adult from the family.

“We engage with the parent/carer or adult family member as to why the child was unsupervised,” he said.

“In all cases we generate a child at risk report and forward it to Family and Community Services (FaCS) to follow up.

“Our main concern is the welfare for the child and young person.

“If they’re out unsupervised and at a location or time of night that is inappropriate we will take them home.

“If the child is in immediate risk, we will bring the child back to the police station and make direct contact with FaCS to have someone come and get the child.”

Police often see a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour during the school holiday periods and with the summer holidays upon us, Det. Insp. Silversides said it’s timely to remind parents, carers and family members of the importance of knowing where their children are at all times.

“If people are planning to go away, make sure homes, vehicles, personal belongings, are secure,” he said.

“If you are travelling, make sure you have necessary breaks every two hours, be mindful of speed and fatigue and if you consume alcohol leave the car and keys at home.

“No-one wants to see families devastated at any time but at Christmas it’s extremely hard.”

All categories except murder remain above the state average, with robbery with a firearm more than 12 times the NSW rate.

Business break-ins are more than 11 times the state average, while break-and-enters to homes is more than eight times the NSW rate.

Meanwhile, crime has remained relatively stable across the New England North West, with the exception of break and enters.