Rockingham crime rate in 'right direction'

Rockingham crime statistics are bucking the metro-wide trend of double-digit offence increases, with local policing teams returning positive results, according to officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Brett Reyne.

When Operation Sweep launched in August, Sen. Sgt Reyne said Rockingham's overall crime was up 20 per cent on figures from winter 2014.

He said since then Local Policing Teams, Rockingham Response and Detective units had been collaborating to clamp down on high- volume crime and priority prolific offenders.

"We are tracking in the right direction and dropping consistently each month since August," he said.

As of last Monday, Rockingham District total crime reports were just 2.9 per cent above records from the same period last year.

This is compared to the overall South Metro District, which was up 8.4 per cent on overall offences in the month of December and almost 11 per cent on November figures, compared to 2014 for the same period.

As for Perth overall crime, for the month of December it was up 12.4 per cent and November was up almost 17 per cent on figures from the same period last year.

Sen. Sgt Reyne said results were positive for burglaries and theft, which were 4.6 per cent and 9.4 per cent down respectively on figures from January last year.

"That is nearly 300 stealing offences down from the previous year," he said.

"For the suburb of Rockingham, it is down 2.5 per cent overall, but 12 per cent down in thefts.

"Warnbro high volume is slightly up but theft is down 13.6 per cent."

Sen. Sgt Reyne said the teams were working to target volume crime and priority prolific offenders.

On January 21 and 22, he said Rockingham Detectives, in conjunction with Kwinana and Rockingham local policing teams, executed 15 search warrants in both police districts.

"Sixteen persons were processed, resulting in 50 charges preferred," he said.

"There were 222 items seized, including stolen property, drugs such as amphetamines and cannabis.

"Some of the charges are for indictable offences."