BENDIGO properties were more likely to be hit by property crime in 2020, new mapping suggests.
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The insurer described properties in the populous 3550 postcode as at "higher risk" and said the area had dropped to 512 out of 551 on its safe suburbs ranking.
It was a fall of 23 places compared to earlier in 2020.
Budget Direct estimated there were 35.71 crimes per 100 properties in the postcode, which encompasses an area stretching from White Hills south to Spring Gully and Long Gully across to East Bendigo.
The crimes included crimes like from minor property damage through to burglaries.
They do not include offences like graffiti.
People living in properties outside of the 3550 postcode were far less likely to be victims of property crime, the research suggested.
A total of 14.93 properties per 1000 were targeted in 2020 in the "lower risk" area that encompasses many areas outside the city limits as well as high growth suburbs like Huntly, Junortoun and Maiden Gully.
Eaglehawk's 3556 postcode climbed 19 places on the safe suburbs ranking but was still deemed "higher risk", Budget Direct said.
It had 24.28 crimes per 1000 properties.
The wider Bendigo region still ranked in the top three regional areas for safety though.
That was because 35 per cent of its suburbs had a lower than average risk, Budget Direct said.
The region included areas north of Bendigo up to Bears Lagoon and those to the south south like Castlemaine.
The safest area in regional Victoria was Warrnambool and the southwest. A total of 56 per cent of the suburbs in that part of the world had a lower than average risk.
Crime Statistics Agency data covering the first three months of 2021 showed a 3.5 per cent drop in criminal incidents, according to numbers released in June.
Criminal damage, stealing from a motor vehicle, breaches of family violence order, other theft, and breaches of bail conditions were the principal offences committed in greater Bendigo.
Budget Direct's Jonathan Kerr recommended that people who were concerned about their home's security consider taking action.
They could install a home security system or join a Neighbourhood Watch program.
"[You should also] minimise the number of unknown visitors you allow into your home," Mr Kerr said.
"For example, people posing as door-to-door salespeople can catch a glimpse inside your home to quickly identify vulnerabilities and identify valuable items."
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