Break-ins across Moray have fallen in the past year, but car crime, serious assaults and robberies have soared.
New police figures have revealed the number of break-ins fell by more than a quarter between April and December last year.
However, car crime, serious assaults and robberies all increased by more than 30%.
Vandalism has also soared by more than 20%, going up from 478 incidents to 578.
Last night, police chiefs stressed the north-east was “one of the safest places in the country to live” and said residents had their own part to play too – by taking preventative action to tackle the slight increase in thefts from insecure vehicles.
And George Alexander, of Moray Council’s police and fire rescue services committee, said he was pleased that crime figures in the region are generally quite low – although vowed to watch the data closely to see if the increases continue.
According to the police’s own figures, there were 131 house breakings between April and December last year, down from 175 in same time frame of 2014.
Common thefts also dropped by nearly 12%, from 313 to 276.
But reports of car crime rose from 96 to 127, serious assaults from 25 to 33 and robberies from eight to 11.
The figures come after a number of high-profile break-ins across Moray in the last few weeks, including at Cullen Golf Club.
The clubhouse was ransacked last Sunday night, with the crooks smashing their way into the premises in a suspected hunt for cash. Although nothing was stolen, the culprits caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
The Beach Bar in Lossiemouth was also broken into overnight on Tuesday.
There were also a number of thefts from cars parked in the Dunbar Street, Bishop’s Court and Merrayton Court area of the town on the same night.
However Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson, who is the divisional commander for the north-east, said that he was pleased that generally, break-ins were in decline.
He said: “It is pleasing to see incidents of housebreaking continue to fall, though the slight rise in dishonesties overall can be largely put down to an increase in thefts from insecure vehicles. Preventative measures are ongoing across the area, including dedicated crime patrols and messages to the public to ensure they secure their property and prevent such opportunistic thefts.
“The north-east remains one of the safest areas in the country and that is in no small part thanks to the hard work and dedication of our local officers and staff working as ever with partners and most importantly the communities themselves.”
Forres councillor Mr Alexander said: “With regard to the car crime figures, the year-on-year increase is from 96 to 127, but this is still below the five-year rolling average and I do not feel this is as alarming as it first appears.
“However I would remind motorists to make sure that they lock their vehicles when they leave them unattended.
“With regard to the increase in robberies from eight to 11, I am simply delighted that we live in an area where the incidence of such crimes is so low.”
Council leader Stewart Cree, who is also on the police and fire rescue services committee, also welcomed the fall and the overall low crime figures for the region.
The former policeman said the figures were continuing a downward trend brought about by extra security measures such as burglar alarms and CCTV cameras.
He pointed out that many of the serious assaults were related to alcohol and “the night time economy”.
“The figures don’t surprise me, particularly the ones going down,” he said.
“It’s disappointing the ones that have gone up, but they tend to reflect trends in society.”