Police say to lock your car and make sure valuables are not easily seen.
The latest Victorian crime statistics, released last week, show that crime rates across Indigo Shire decreased by 4.2 per cent 2025.
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Despite this, criminal incidents in both Rutherglen and Wahgunyah increased.
But according to Rutherglen’s Sergeant Mick Savage, this year, 51 crimes were reported as opposed to 60 at the same time last year.
The number of criminal incidents reported in Rutherglen increased from 89 in 2024 to 103 last year and in Wahgunyah the figure rose from 19 to 29.
2025 figures showed 460 criminal incidents across the shire compared with 480 the previous year.
Of those, 38 per cent resulted in charges being laid but almost half (212) remain unsolved.
The most common crimes reported across the Shire were breaches in family violence orders, followed by theft.
Across Victoria, crime rates increased by 4 per cent last year.
Crime statistics across Indigo Shire decreased in 2025.
“We have had a number of pro-active reports made to the Rutherglen Police Station in relation to damage and poor behaviour offences, which have been committed by the same offenders,” Sgt Savage said.
“Most of these offences are committed by Indigo Shire residents, well known to Rutherglen Police.
“Those offenders have been processed accordingly.”
Several burglaries and thefts in the Rutherglen area have been part of a series of offending with the same offenders responsible.
Sgt Savage said that offenders would often attend Rutherglen/Wahgunyah areas, as well as other small towns, when police were off duty.
They can commit multiple offences – three or four burglaries or five to six thefts from motor vehicles - in a night.
“Often the vehicles are left unlocked, sheds are unlocked and houses are unlocked or access is easily gained,” he said.
“As such, local police are conducting regular patrols when ordinarily we would not be, with assistance from other station personnel.
“Criminal damage is often youth related with graffiti, damaging signs, and just general poor behaviour when with their friends, when alcohol or drug affected, or bored.”
Install sensor lights and CCTV if possible to do so, and continue to contact police if you see something that does not appear right.
Photo by
CHRISTIAN_DELBERT
The strong message from Rutherglen Police is to lock up your valuables, ensure your valuables are not able to be easily seen or taken by a third party, and if possible secure your vehicles, your shedding and your properties.
Look at installing sensor lights and CCTV if possible to do so, and continue to contact police if you see something that does not appear right.
“Police are very happy to attend a scene and assess a situation where the end result is not criminal,” Sgt Savage said.
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