By JONATHON HOWARD
TENTERFIELD crime rates have surged and police are calling for greater community information to help stem the tide.
March quarterly figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, revealed that break and enters on residential properties increased from 44 during the same period last year to 59 this year.
Meanwhile, break and enters reported to non-dwellings dropped from 36 to 28.
Overall crime statistics in Tenterfield increased by 12 per cent for major crimes, from 326 last year to 367 this year.
Malicious damage to property also increased from 85 in the 2012 March quarter last year to 123 in the 2013 March quarter, or an increase of 44.7 per cent.
Tenterfield fared better in the overall standings than other centres, with major crime totally 426 offences in Kyogle, 532 in Glen Innes-Severn and a staggering 946 in Inverell.
The number of assault victims in NSW fell three per cent in 2012 to 68,745, which compared with 2011 of 71,168 assaults.
The overall victimisation rate had also fallen to 943 per 100,000 people from 975 a year earlier.
Anyone with information that can help police fight crime should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
