Victoria has recorded a dramatic rise in machete-related crime, with violent teenagers responsible for a significant share of the offending, according to newly released data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA).
The figures show that more than 2000 machete incidents were recorded in the past year—nearly four times higher than a decade ago.
Police logged 2061 machete-related offences in 2024–25, a staggering increase from 552 cases recorded in 2015. Alarmingly, 40 per cent of all incidents involved boys under the age of 18, highlighting a rapid escalation of serious violence among young offenders.
The CSA report also reveals the presence of a small but highly dangerous group of 988 “high-intensity” repeat offenders who were collectively responsible for 16 per cent of all crime in Victoria last year. Each member of this group recorded more than 20 separate criminal incidents within a single year—an increase of 226 per cent over the past decade. For youth in this cohort, the median number of offences committed in 2024–25 was an extraordinary 30 per offender.
The rise in machete-related offending has been observed across all age groups, but the report states that growth among youth aged 10 to 17 has been “more rapid in recent years”.
The alarming statistics follow yet another public-place machete attack, this time in Clyde North, where an innocent family was threatened at their front door last weekend.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed that officers have seized more than 15,000 edged weapons—including knives and machetes—so far this year, marking the largest collection of illegal weapons since record-keeping began.
In response to the escalating violence, the Allan government recently unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at reducing youth crime. Under the changes, children over 14 accused of violent home invasions or carjackings could face life sentences—one of the most significant policy shifts in recent Victorian legal history. A new Violence Reduction Unit will also be established in schools to intervene early with at-risk youth.
For victims, the impact is deeply personal. Truganina resident Azam Elterekmani, whose home was invaded last month by four hooded youths while he and his pregnant wife slept, said the latest figures did not surprise him. CCTV footage showed the offenders calmly wandering around the property before allegedly stealing two vehicles—including his Ford Raptor—and a PlayStation 5.
Elterekmani said his wife is now terrified in their own home. “She panics at any noise now,” he told the Herald Sun. “The stress levels are high… you definitely feel unsafe.”
