The latest round of Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) figures revealed rates of break-and-enters to homes and businesses, car stealings, thefts from cars, malicious damage, robbery and assaults were up in Tamworth in the 12 months to June, 2017.

The rates of sexual assault and shoplifting fell while all other crime categories were stable in the same time period.

Robbery without a weapon doubled from five incidents to 11 in the 12 months to June, 2017, while break-ins to homes climbed from 438 incidents to 537 in the same year.

Thirty-nine more cars were stolen in the Tamworth Regional Council area, and 98 more thefts were reported from cars in the 12-month period. 

Despite the increase, Oxley Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy told The Leader the August crime rate was down on July, so the BOCSAR data was out of date. 

“Our Target Action Group (TAG) and our general duties have been actively targeting property crime and these people wanted for property offences and they have made some significant arrests in the last month,” he said.

“In addition, these officers have been vigilant with bail and curfew checks on those people before the courts including checking on them in the middle of the night to ensure they are complying with their conditions.”

Earlier this week, police cornered a 17-year-old in a house in Bent St, Tamworth, after he was wanted for two break-ins to businesses in the CBD.

Detective Acting Inspector Darcy said there had been a number of people charged.

“We have arrested and put before the courts a number of people who we allege have committed multiple offences,” he said.

“And history shows that a handful of offenders can commit multiple crimes in a matter of hours.

“Our crime review on Thursday showed that everything is down for the month, but the month before we had a spike.

“I am confident that these statistics will continue on a downward trend, based on the work of our officers, who have been working hard to target property crime and other-related offences.”

He said the community needed to remain vigilant and lock up or risk losing it.

“We would remind the public to secure their valuables, never leave their personal items or property in their car and lock their doors, windows and vehicles to prevent opportunistic crime,” he said.

“It removes the temptation for thieves and could prevent you becoming a victim of crime, but if you see suspicious activity, then ring the police.”