Data released by the Crime Statistics Agency this morning states there were 2581 recorded thefts in the municipality in year ending December 31 – more than a quarter of the overall 9725 offences in the area.

Breaches of orders were the second most frequent category, at 1750 incidents offences.

Property damage, assault and related offences, and burglaries or break and enter incidents were also among the top five offence subdivisions.

The number of offences reported in Greater Bendigo in 2017 was down from 10,854 in 2016.

The city’s decrease in recorded criminal incidents and offences was consistent with the statewide trend.

Victoria Police recorded a fall in the prevalence of property and deception offences such as arson, burglary and theft.

Property and deception offences in Greater Bendigo also decreased, dropping from 5515 in 2016 to 4892 in 2017.

The only category to significantly increase, statewide, in those 12 months was sexual offences.

Reports were up almost 16 per cent, to 8279, compared with 7142 incidents the year prior.

The crime rate in Greater Bendigo compared favourably with the neighbouring shire of Campaspe, which had a rate of 6813.7 criminal incidents per 100,000 people.

Bendigo had a rate of 6409.1.

Central Goldfields recorded 866 incidents in 2017, bringing its crime rate to 6885. 

The rest of the surrounding shires were comparatively lower, with Loddon and Mount Alexander reporting about 4000 criminal incidents per 100,000 people.

Macedon Ranges was lower still, with fewer than 4000 incidents.

Mildura and Greater Shepparton ranked among the local government areas with the highest criminal incident and recorded offence rates in the state.

Between 2016 – 2017, the family violence incident rate in Greater Bendigo dropped 8.2 per cent to 1373.5 incidents per 100,000 people.

The rates also dropped in the surrounding local government areas.