Robberies have rocketed across Southend and Rayleigh - up a shocking 30 per cent.
Offences against the person and vehicle crime have also risen and criminal damage has shot up about 20 per cent - with graffiti vandals the chief culprits.
According to police figures, Rayleigh suffered 17.7 per cent more crime in the year to April 1, 2004 than in the previous 12 months.
Southend's increase of 2.9 per cent, however, is below the Essex average of 6.1 per cent.
There were fewer burglaries in both divisions. In Southend, burglaries to homes fell 23.2 per cent.
Chief Supt Mick Thwaites claimed robberies in Southend were actually 45 per cent down in the past six months.
He said: "Since Operation Repulse was launched six months ago, they have plunged. We put many officers on the streets to provide a quick response."
Acting Insp Kevin Diable-White from Rayleigh police pointed out that although robberies in Rayleigh went up 31 per cent, the actual number of offences remained very low.
He said: "The increase in robberies is due to a rise in mobile phone theft, which is happening nationwide."
Published Thursday July 8, 2004
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