Quarterly crime figures released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research identified a notable increase in the rate of fraud and break-ins to non-dwellings reported at Dubbo.
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Dubbo is not alone, but its increases are among the biggest in the NSW.
While members of the community will debate the various merits of incarceration and rehabilitation, it is fairly safe to say that someone in prison is not out on the streets committing too many break-and-enters or frauds.
Urging retailers and other businesses to up their security and outlay for video surveillance and alarms sometimes seems like victim-blaming but sadly it's necessary.
After all, if people didn't carry out break-ins or use stolen credit cards to buy things they wouldn't have to worry.
Like so many good things, the days of people understanding they have to work for what they want instead of stealing it are long gone.
Perpetrators quite possibly think business owners are rich people, certainly better off than themselves, for whom a break-in or fraud will just be covered by insurance.
Yet there are small businesses that are barely breaking even, all the while providing local employment and income to families, businesses who time and time again say yes when asked to sponsor a local sporting team or donate to a charity fundraiser.
Community members should help by alerting police to suspicious behaviour. The next business hit could well be the one that sponsors your child's team or employs your son or daughter.
And when police publish security footage of people of interest on social media - share the hell out of it to help catch the bad guys.