RACV and Neighbourhood Watch Victoria are working together to improve the security of Victorian farms and regional properties following a rise in crime, with the regional areas of Latrobe, Mildura, Ararat and Horsham among the top five highest Local Government Areas for criminal incidents and recorded offences.
RACV and Neighbourhood Watch Victoria's How safe is my farm online quiz– an Australian-first initiative developed with Victoria Police – helps Victorian farmers identify what they can do to reduce the risk of crime on their properties.
According to the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, the regional areas of Latrobe, Mildura and Ararat were in the top five areas for criminal incident rates (per 100,000 estimated resident population) in the year ending 30 June 2024:
- Ararat 9,345.7 incidents, up 25.8%.
- Latrobe 11,578.8 incidents, up 9.8%.
- Yarra 11,045.1 incidents, up 8.5%.
- Melbourne 15,115.9 incidents, up 5.4%.
- Mildura 10,330.1 incidents, up 4.2%.
Regional areas of Latrobe, Mildura and Horsham were also in the top five areas for recorded offence rates (per 100,000 estimated resident population):
- Melbourne 20,827.5 offences, up 7.0%.
- Latrobe 15,979.7 offences, up 7.0%.
- Yarra 13,543.6 offences, up 4.9%.
- Mildura 13,883.4 offences, up 2.6%.
- Horsham 12,989.3 offences, down 2.0%.
RACV's General Manager Home, Bill Bloodworth, said it was concerning to see many regional areas in these statistics.
"We encourage all Victorians to complete Neighbourhood Watch Victoria's How safe is my farm quiz to identify practical steps to reduce the risk of crime on their properties.
"How safe is my farm works by giving Victorians a tool to audit their property, find vulnerabilities that may exist and suggests prevention measures that can improve safety and security.
"The free online tool asks a series of easy-to-answer questions about the farm set-up and security arrangements. The tool then presents users with a personalised report on their farm's safety.
Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Chief Executive Officer Bambi Gordon said the new data reinforced the need for farmers to show vigilance and to take the right precautions.
According to the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, there were 2380 crimes committed on Victorian farms – up from 2125 from the previous year. Of those crimes, 1453 were theft, 431 were burglary and there were 343 instances of property damage.
"We know that farm crime can be a serious issue for Victorians. It can it can be costly, disruptive and mentally exhausting to one of our hardest-working communities," Ms Gordon said.
"Crime is opportunistic and we can remove that opportunity by keeping an eye on each other, reporting crimes and suspicious behaviour when we see it and using preventative security measures," said Ms Gordon.
"Times have changed. But on the upside, we know that theft is often opportunistic, so if we can remove the opportunity, we can prevent crime from occurring."
Farmers are urged to take proactive steps in securing their properties. Simple measures such as installing proper lighting, securing gates, and utilising surveillance cameras can significantly deter potential criminal activity.
To help regional Victorians improve security on their property, Neighbourhood Watch Victoria is offering large signage with 'This property is protected by Neighbourhood Watch' to the first 50 people who complete the How Safe Is My Place quiz. Terms and conditions apply.
