Tambellup’s year-to-date crime statistics reveal reduction in burglaries and damage offences

Tambellup police have welcomed a sharp drop in burglaries in the Great Southern town, attributing the success to a combination of local policing, security, and community initiatives. Despite recent burglaries on Crawford Street and another at the Shire of Tambellup office, Sgt Josh Humble said year-to-date crime statistics showed an 80.8 per cent decrease in burglaries in the Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup. Looking at the “five-year trend” he said there had been a 19 per cent reduction in damage offences, a 50 per cent reduction in stealing and a 67.5 per cent drop in burglaries. The Shire had experienced a slight increase in family assaults, however. Overall, Sgt Humble said crime had dropped by 21 per cent across the shire. He said 24 CCTV systems had been installed at residential properties and businesses throughout the shire in the past 18 months as part of a Tambellup police rollout. “We have been encouraging people to install CCTV systems, screen lock doors, potentially fit windows with security screens, improving locks, and build relationships with neighbours to make it harder for crooks to do what they do,” he said. “The Tambellup community has taken our burglary awareness advice on board by installing those camera systems and potentially locking doors and windows when they are not home to make it more difficult for burglaries to occur.” Sgt Humble said although an increase in security could deter would-be burglars, it was not the sole factor in the crime drop throughout the shire. He said much of the change came on the back of South Coast NRM and Impact Services initiatives to improve youth engagement. “The burglaries and offences committed by youth 18 months ago have been massively reduced,” he said. “There has been a heavy reduction in youth crime which has to do with external youth engagement.” Sgt Humble urged residents not to become complacent and to consider CCTV systems.