Armed burglars are terrorising Victorian households at a record rate, with more than 150 home invasions reported weekly — more than double the rate from a decade ago. Aggravated burglaries targeting shops and petrol stations have also reached unprecedented levels.
According to the latest crime statistics, nearly half of the 7,856 aggravated burglaries recorded were committed by child offenders, meaning more than 20 homes are targeted every day.
The rise in violent home invasions has left families on edge. One suburban household now sleeps in locked bedrooms, keeping wasp spray within arm’s reach as a precaution.
The surge represents a 120 per cent increase over the past ten years and a 20 per cent rise compared with last year. Victims have reported significant physical and psychological trauma.
In Brighton East, 76-year-old grandmother Pat confronted two armed intruders in her lounge on October 27, while in Camberwell, father Josh threw a chair at two intruders during another home invasion on October 29, protecting his sleeping children.
Hawthorn father Grant Brown successfully chased and captured a teen after confronting intruders in his home, while Bayside resident Adele Andrews described the ongoing crime wave as “ridiculous,” recalling how her Black Rock home was targeted by youths wielding a machete and involved in car theft.
“It’s almost becoming accepted,” Andrews said. “We’re heading for a troubling future, with young people showing no respect for the law, authorities, or consequences.”
The surge in violent burglaries has authorities urging residents to remain vigilant as Victoria grapples with an unprecedented rise in home invasions.
