Police statistics shows total offending increased in most towns across Harvey and Waroona region in 2023

A spike in offending has hit towns in the Harvey and Waroona regions, with rises in burglaries, stealing and property damage a major factor in most areas. Analysis of WA crime statistics for eight locations by the Harvey-Waroona Reporter reveals most saw a double-digit rise in total offences in 2023, with property crimes one of the leading causes. Harvey saw the number of total offences, excluding traffic crimes, jump from 183 in 2022 to 219 in 2023, a 19.7 per cent increase. Non-family assaults skyrocketed in the town from two in 2022 to 19 in 2023, while family assaults were up 108 per cent. Non-dwelling burglaries in the town increased five-fold last year, with property damage rising by 68.4 per cent. Drug offences still remain far lower than figures recorded in previous years despite a 54.5 per cent year-on-year rise. Sexual offences in the town returned to more average levels in 2023, dropping from 25 to five. Total offending in Waroona increased from 155 in 2022 to 172 in 2023, a 10.9 per cent rise. The number of sexual offences tripled following a temporary dip in 2022, though family assaults dropped and non-family assaults remained steady. Stealing crimes increased by 31.8 per cent, while drug offences increased by 14.2 per cent. Offending in Myalup doubled to 80 in its worst figure for five years, with drug offences (up 438 per cent) being largely responsible for the result. Brunswick Junction recorded its first triple-digit offences result since 2016, with its 13.8 per cent rise driven by an 53.3 per cent uptick in property crime. Yarloop’s figures increased by 33 per cent compared to 2022, though the results are largely due to a significant rise in breaches of violence restraining orders. After four years of declining crime rates, Lake Clifton experienced a 22.2 per cent increase in offending during 2023, though the figure remains below what was recorded in 2021. Not all areas experienced an increase, with Binningup experiencing a 25 per cent drop in overall offences despite the number of stealing charges nearly doubling from nine to 17. Preston Beach recorded its best crime result since 2018, recording an overall fall of 58.8 per cent. The result was driven by substantial falls in family assaults, breaches of violence restraining orders (both down 71.4 per cent) and stealing (down 57.2 per cent)