The Southern Gazette reviewed the available data on the suburbs of Ascot, Belmont, Cloverdale, Kewdale, Perth Airport, Redcliffe and Rivervale, comparing the number of offences that occurred from April 2012 to March 2013 to the previous 12 months.
From April 2012 to March this year, 2042 offences most commonly reported by the public such as assaults, burglaries and graffiti were committed, 104 offences fewer than the previous 12 months.
The number of graffiti offences reported dropped 83 per cent, in particular in Cloverdale, which dropped from 222 offences in 2011/12 to five offences in 2012/13.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWAcross the City, reports of motor vehicle thefts had increased 18.3 per cent, assaults 6.4 per cent and home burglaries by 7.3 per cent.
Belmont Police Station officer-in charge Peter Arancini said an increase in population had led to fluctuations in reports of crime, which may have caused short-term increases and reductions in various offences.
Out of all the suburbs reviewed, Belmont was the only one to record decreases in all offences.
City of Belmont chief executive Stuart Cole said the City and Belmont police were working hard to reduce all types of crime and had developed a series of initiatives to protect residents and businesses including free security appraisals, handbag alarms and a 24/7 community watch.
Earlier this month, Belmont Mayor Phil Marks said on ABC radio he wanted the Belmont police station to be open 24/7 because the Canning police station dealt with most crime in Belmont and poor response times were affecting the |public’s opinion of the area.