Wangaratta's crime rate may have risen by four per cent in the past 12 months, but a double digit increase statewide has seen the rural city fall below the Victorian average crime rate for the first time since 2021.
Crime Statistic Agency figures for the past 12 months to 30 June, 2025 show the number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police across the state jumped 18.3 per cent to 483,583 incidents, while the number of offences rose 15.7 per cent to 638,640.
Wangaratta saw a much more modest rise, with criminal incidents up four per cent to 1711, with charges laid in 48.3 per cent of cases, no charges laid in 18.5 per cent of cases and 33.2 per cent listed as unsolved.
The rural city's total number of criminal offences of 3052 was an 11.4 per cent rise on the previous 12 months of 2739 offences and the second highest in the past decade behind 2021.
Offences in Wangaratta rose from 2323 to 2497, jumped from 85 to 115 in Glenrowan, modestly increased from 21 to 25 in Springhurst, and dropped from 42 to 36 in Wangaratta South.
Everton had the most significant rise, from 2 to 146, on the back on one man's alleged series of thefts from his employer.
Family violence order breaches remained the most common offence, up from 424 the previous 12 months to 478.
Thefts rose from 217 to 306, criminal damage offences jumped from 211 to 260, drug possession was up from 226 to 234, and theft from retail stores increased from 144 to 168.
People were arrested or charged for almost 60 per cent of offences, with 25 per cent unsolved.
Glenrowan saw criminal incidents increased from 69 to 72, Springhurst had eight more incidents, up from 15 the previous year to 23, Moyhu an increase of one to 15, while Wangaratta South had the only decrease, down three to 30 incidents.
Deputy Commissioner regional operations, Rob Hill, said, as a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalised and accepted, and that
“Victoria Police is tackling these issues head on".
"Our members are doing exceptional work to resolve these crimes, but it must be said - the number of arrests we are seeing reflects an unacceptable level of offending," he said.
“We will continue to make arrests and hold offenders to account, but we need to prevent and deter crime to reduce offending so that there are fewer victims in Victoria.
“Right now we are working on new approaches that will deter repeat offenders and help stop these crimes before they can occur.
"This includes a focus on how we can get more police out on the streets.
“We will continue to work with government and our partners on developing strategies and solutions for preventing and responding to crime in Victoria.
“And we will encourage the community to keep taking simple steps to help prevent crime, such as locking doors and considering anti-theft devices for vehicles."
Statewide, theft from motor vehicles was up 39.4pc, motor vehicle theft was up 42.1pc, family violence order breaches were up 16.7pc, theft from a retail store was up 27.6pc and theft was 15.7pc.