Victoria Police is urging the community to lock home and vehicle doors this summer, as new police intelligence reveals aggravated burglaries and car thefts have increased as the weather starts to heat up.
The intelligence released by Operation Trinity shows a spike in offending over the past month, with unlocked properties and vehicles continuing to be targeted by opportunistic thieves.
Between 17 August and 18 October this year, there was an average of 22 aggravated burglaries per week where a car was stolen.
While each burglary and car theft is one too many, this represented an almost 30% reduction in offending rates compared to the three months before Operation Trinity was first established.
Unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in offending between 19 October and 9 November as the weather has begun to improve, with the weekly number of aggravated burglaries where a car was stolen rising to 32.
A significant number of these crimes have involved offenders accessing unlocked homes and vehicles.
For example, there were 15 aggravated burglaries where cars were stolen over the weekend of 8 – 11 November, with at least ten of these due to deficiencies in security. Among the homes burgled were:
• Nine with unlocked doors, mainly at the rear of the property or via a garage pedestrian door.
• One accessed as house keys were left in an unlocked vehicle parked at the property.
• One was a failed attempt after the offenders were scared off by a dog inside the home.
• Three where the method of entry was unable to be determined.
• One where the front door was smashed in.
While offending has increased recently, police have continued to make significant arrests, including 44 on nightshift alone over the past fortnight.
Among those arrested by Operation Trinity during this time were:
• A Nissan X-Trail was stolen from a property in Clyde North between 3am and 5am on 8 November. The offenders initially found the vehicle unlocked at the front of the house, with the garage remote inside. Using this to enter the property, the offenders took the car keys and other valuables including computers, cash and credit cards which were later used in multiple transactions. The following morning at around 3.30am, Operation Trinity units observed the Nissan X-Trail and a Ford Mondeo driving suspiciously in convoy in Officer. Police commenced an extended follow, with Air Wing monitoring from the skies. Upon becoming aware of the Air Wing above, the offending vehicles split, and police continued to follow the Nissan X-Trail. The vehicle was tracked to Cochrane Street in Cranbourne where two 14-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy were arrested.
• Offenders entered a Doncaster property via an unlocked rear sliding door between 1.00am and 3.30am on 29 October. Once inside the offenders stole keys for two vehicles, as well as a MacBook Pro. A Porsche stolen from the property was later tracked by police and the Air Wing driving at speeds of up to 240km/h along the Monash Freeway on 4 November. Six teens were arrested in Caulfield East after stop sticks were deployed. The driver – a 16-year-old boy – was charged with a range of offences, including dangerous driving while pursued by police, reckless conduct endangering life, burglary, and theft of motor vehicle. A 15-year-old boy was charged with theft of motor vehicle, while four 14-year-old girls were released with a caution.
• On 3 November, offenders entered a St Leonards house via an unlocked rear door. The keys to a Mercedes Benz sedan were stolen from a hook inside the front door. On 7 November, police located the stolen Mercedes travelling along Waverley Road, Malvern East. Police and the Air Wing followed the vehicle to Stud Road, where stop sticks were deployed. The vehicle eventually came to a stop in Lonsdale Street, Dandenong where six children were taken into custody – a 17-year-old boy, three 15-year-old boys, one 15-year-old girl, and one 14-year-old girl.
Operation Trinity has been specifically targeting burglars and car thieves each night since March 2023.
The operation, which runs from dusk until dawn across Melbourne, is easily Victoria Police’s most well-resourced operation.
On top of standard patrols, there are another 70 police including members of the Dog Squad, Public Order Response Team, and Air Wing, specifically tasked with preventing and responding to burglaries and car thefts each night.
As a result of this intense focus, police arrested 673 burglars and car thieves almost 1,550 times over the 12 months to September 2024.
A further 7,350 people have been processed for other offences detected by police working nightshift across the Trinity area of operations.
All data referenced throughout this release relates solely to the Operation Trinity area of operations, which includes the following policing divisions – Boroondara/Manningham/Monash/Whitehorse, Dandenong/Casey/Cardinia, Kingston/Glen Eira/Bayside, Banyule/Darebin/Nillumbik/Whittlesea, Frankston/Mornington Peninsula, Stonnington/Port Phillip, Knox/Maroondah/Yarra Ranges.
Quotes attributable to Acting Superintendent Andrew McKee, Deputy Police Commander – Operation Trinity
“We know that summer is traditionally peak season for home burglaries, however if you lock your property, the odds of falling victim dramatically reduce.
“Victoria Police has uniform officers, the Dog Squad, Air Wing, Highway Patrol, and the Public Order Response Team patrolling Melbourne from dusk to dawn ever night to prevent offending and catch criminals.
“This approach is resulting in a significant number of arrests – Operation Trinity arrests four burglars and car thieves every single day.
“However, we also need the community’s help, as the reality is police cannot address the issue alone.
“We know that people are more likely to be spending time outdoors over the coming months, while windows and doors on homes will be open at different times of the day.
“Before you go to bed, double check all doors and windows are locked on your home and car as often this is all it takes to deter opportunistic burglars and thieves.
“Other simple tips are letting a family member, friend, or neighbour know if you’re heading on holiday, so they can keep an eye on your house, collect your mail and take the bins in.
“Other key deterrents include sensor lights and pets, with offenders often scared off when either of these are present.”
