The Hawkesbury has shown some encouraging results in the release of latest crime statistics, despite a small spike in fraud offences.
Following the release of the latest stats from the Bureau of Crime Statistics, the Hawkesbury fared well in their fight against crime, but the theft of fuel from service stations hampered its results in fraud.
Like many other areas across Sydney and the state, the theft of fuel is an issue police are battling every day.
Hawkesbury LAC crime manager, Paul McHugh said fraud had an increase of 79 offences between the financial year 2014/15 and 2015/16.
He said counterfeit money also hampered results.
“An increase in the circulation of counterfeit currency, particularly $50 notes, has been one aspect of the increase. This is also relevant for Hawkesbury LAC,” Det Insp McHugh said.
“Instances of failing to pay for fuel is another aspect related to increased numbers of fraud incidents in the Hawkesbury LAC. At a state level, there has been, over time, considerable discussion with industry in relation to finding appropriate solutions regarding the issue of failing to pay for fuel.
“Another challenge where an offence of fail to pay is able to be prosecuted, is gaining the cooperation of witnesses (consul operators) to provide statements and be available to give evidence in court.”
A service station attendant from a business in Richmond said the theft of fuel was a real issue for stations across the Hawkesbury and said the reporting and prosecution of such crimes was flawed.
“Before police would call the perpetrators and most of the time they would come back and pay. They can’t do that now,” the man said.
“It’s a real problem that needs to be highlighted, when people steal fuel its money out of our back pockets, we don’t get reimbursed."
In terms of other crime the Hawkesbury LAC is reasonably aligned with state-wide statistics provided, with good reductions in major crime areas across the board.
The Command has been reasonably stable in assaults (non DV), with considerable reductions in robbery offences, trending down in break and enter - dwelling, with considerable reductions in break and enter - non-dwelling.
Malicious Damage offences have been consistently trending down year on year from 2011/2012 onwards. Stolen vehicles have also been trending down each year for the last three years.
“We also achieved a substantial reduction in steal from motor vehicle offences between the 2014/2015 year and the 2015/2016 year,” Det Insp McHugh said.
“Having said that we are right now experiencing a rise in this crime type which has been subject of recent appeals to the public.”