Bendigo Police Report Sharp Rise in Retail Theft as Winter Crime Spike Continues

Bendigo's emergency services have faced a demanding week as police grapple with a noticeable uptick in retail crime, particularly across the city's shopping precincts, while fire and ambulance crews have responded to a series of weather-related incidents as winter conditions intensify.

Victoria Police released preliminary crime statistics on Friday showing that shoplifting incidents in the Bendigo CBD increased by 22 per cent over the past fortnight compared to the same period last year. The majority of incidents have been concentrated along Pall Mall and in the Bendigo Shopping Centre, where store managers report losses totalling more than $8,500 in merchandise this month alone. Police have deployed additional foot patrols in High Street and surrounding retail zones, with detectives urging business owners to upgrade security measures and report suspicious activity immediately.

"We're asking our retailers to remain vigilant and work with us to address this trend," a Bendigo Police spokesperson said in a statement released Wednesday. "Community cooperation is essential in keeping our CBD safe and welcoming."

In a separate incident that highlighted road safety concerns, emergency crews responded to a multi-vehicle collision on the Calder Freeway near the Kangaroo Flat exit on Tuesday evening. The crash, which occurred at approximately 5:45 pm during heavy rain, involved four vehicles and resulted in two people being transported to Bendigo Health with minor injuries. Traffic was diverted for ninety minutes while paramedics and the Country Fire Authority cleared the scene. The Freeway Patrol is continuing investigations into the cause of the collision.

Bendigo Ambulance Service also reported a 15 per cent increase in callouts for the week ending Sunday, with weather-related injuries and falls among older residents becoming more frequent as icy conditions affect footpaths across northern suburbs including Spring Gully and Jackass Flat.

On a positive note, Bendigo Fire and Rescue successfully prevented what could have been a significant incident when firefighters extinguished a structural fire at a commercial property on Nolan Street on Thursday morning. No injuries were reported, though the building sustained moderate smoke damage. Crews praised the building's functioning fire alarm system for enabling rapid evacuation.

Police are urging residents to report crime via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through the Victoria Police website, with a particular focus on retail theft. The Bendigo CBD Precinct Safety Group will meet next week to discuss coordinated responses to the emerging trends.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.