CANBERRA'S inner north has been a hot spot for theft as the rest of the territory experienced a sharp decline in crime, according to the most recent ACT Policing statistics.
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Across the capital crime fell by 14 per cent in the first three months of the year, compared with the same period last year.
But from January to March thefts in north Canberra jumped 21 per cent from 572 to 693, while the total number of crimes in the area increased by 1 per cent on the previous year.
The inner north was the only area to experience a rise in crime with 2755 offences reported this year, compared with 2720 in 2012. But the jump follows five years of falling crime rates in the area with 15,668 crimes reported in 2008, compared with 11,369 last year.
Weston Creek had the biggest fall in reported crime with almost 40 per cent fewer calls. Reports fell from 790 last year to 482.
Tuggeranong also saw a decrease, with offence rates falling from 2226 in 2012 to 1614 this year, a 27 per cent decline.
Superintendent of ACT Policing intelligence and crime prevention Cath Grassick said it was pleasing to see most offences continuing to fall.
"Crime is cyclical and although we have enjoyed a positive result in the past three months it is important ACT Policing is ready to adapt and evolve in order to meet any new challenges which arise in the future," Superintendent Grassick said.
"District intelligence officers allocate tasks to align with station-specific priorities and identify crime hot spots, which address issues at a local community level."
Acting ACT Policing intelligence and crime prevention superintendent Chris Meagher said police had actively targeted repeat offenders, which helped reduce crime rates in several areas.
''Our intelligence-led efforts, combined with prevention such as through our alcohol-related crime team, has had a significant impact, but I have to emphasise that one of our biggest tools is the community calling Crime Stoppers,'' Superintendent Meagher said.
Police intelligence had also pointed to an issue with property crimes committed in the basement car parks of large apartment blocks in Braddon, Turner and O'Connor, but there had been some recent arrests that he expected would be reflected in the next set of crime figures.
By category of crime, theft (excluding that of motor vehicles) was the only group to increase with a rise of 1 per cent.
Burglary offences dropped 65 per cent in the ACT with 471 offences recorded this year, compared with 730 reported for the same period a year earlier.
The number of reported robberies halved, from 67 in 2012 to 34.
Motor vehicle theft also fell 45 per cent with 203 offences reported this year, compared with 366 last year.
