Fewer burglaries, but surges in stealing and acts of violence

Despite a string of burglaries in the region in recent months, the number of recorded break-ins is expected to drop for the 2018-19 financial year in Narrogin.

Eighty dwelling and non-dwelling burglaries offences were recorded between June 2018 and March 2019.

This compares with a total of 144 in the 2017-18, according to statistics released by WA Police last month.

Stealing and violent offences, however, have surged.

In the first three quarters of this financial year, 173 stealing offences were recorded, while there were only 165 offences in the entire 2017-18 financial year.

Motor vehicle thefts are expected to hit their highest numbers since 2009-10, with 10 being recorded so far, compared with 13 in 2017-18.

Like stealing offences, Narrogin is set to exceed more acts of violence acts than any other financial year since 2009-10 — the earliest year statistics for individual towns have been made available.

Between June 2018 and March 2019, 94 assault offences against family members were recorded, compared with 74 in 2017-18.

This follows a plea from Narrogin police to people experiencing domestic violence, after at least three Narrogin men were jailed last month alone for assaults on their partners.

Assaults on non-family members could also hit their highest levels since 2010-11, when 75 were recorded.

There were 44 instances of assault on non-family members in the first three quarters of 2018-19, compared with 54 in 2017-18.

Increased capabilities from WA police to carry out roadside drug testing appears to be acting as a deterrent to illicit drug-use in the community.

There has been a major drop in drug offences, with 131 drug-related crimes recorded so far compared with 310 in 2017-18.