Man jailed after stealing 29 payphones

A man will spend at least 14 months in jail for stealing 29 payphones from the Darwin area.

The 48-year-old said he wanted the money inside the phones for alcohol and DVDs.

Gregory Guy Smith pleaded guilty to stealing payphones worth $78,000 between September 2006 and January last year.

He used a chisel and a sledge hammer to break open the cashboxes and took $2,500 in coins.

He shared the proceeds with a co-offender.

The payphones were then dumped in bushland.

He also admitted stealing up to $26,000 worth of items including jewellery from the Framed Gallery in Stuart Park, as well as selling tools he stole from the back of a truck for $1,000.

Chief Magistrate Jenny Blokland described the crimes as serious and sentenced Smith to 28 months in jail.

He will be eligible for parole after 14 months.

Govt to tackle violent crime increase

The Victorian Government says it will tackle the rising level of violent crime in the state.

Leaked police data shows crimes committed against people are increasing, especially robberies, abductions and assaults.

The figures also show the total crime level has fallen slightly, but a smaller proportion of cases are being solved.

The Opposition says it is clear the Government needs to put more resources into Victoria Police.

But Premier John Brumby says the Government is already tackling alcohol abuse and violent crime.

"We intend to keep up with our efforts in public education, in things like tougher liquor-licencing laws, the Safe Streets Taskforce, all of those things which are about cracking down on binge drinking, cracking down on alcohol abuse and cracking down on night-time violence," he said.

Overall drop

The total crime rate has fallen, as have the number of homicides and rapes.

The Opposition and the Police Association say the figures show the force is under-resourced.

But the Deputy Police commissioner, Kieren Walshe, says new initiatives have been introduced to tackle violent crime.

"There has been a deterioration in public order and we've seen an increase in assaults in and around licensed premises," he said.

"Hence, we released and started our Safe Streets Taskforce in October last year and more recently this year we started our Liquor Licensing Taskforce."

The Opposition Leader, Ted Baillieu, says the figures for violent crime show fewer crimes are being solved.

"Dropping clearance rates simply means that police are stretched to the limit," he said.

"They're under the pump, and they can't do what they want to do."

Deputy Commissioner Walshe said the crime statistics are provisional figures and have not been verified.

He says there will be an investigation to find the source of the leak.

"We in Victoria Police are extremely disappointed that that has been undertaken," he said.

"Our concerns is that it provides unnecessary concern in the community until such time as we're in a position to put out verified crime statistics."

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Girls broke law to see jailed friends: Police

Two 14-year-old girls from Carnarvon, in central western Western Australia, who pleaded guilty to several burglaries, told police they committed the crimes so they could spend time with friends already in custody.

One of the girls pleaded guilty to 19 offences, including seven counts of aggravated burglary.

The other pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including attempting to steal a motor vehicle.

Detective Senior Constable Bruce McDonald says he is concerned by the reason behind the weekend crime spree.

"The disturbing matter regarding all the offences is that when the girls were interviewed by the police they stated they wanted to get apprehended so that they could be remanded in custody and sent to Rangeview Remand Centre in Perth where they currently have a group of friends," he said.

The girls are due back in court at a later date for pre-sentence reports.