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Victoria Police record every reported break-in by local government area. Preston sits in the City of Darebin, alongside Northcote, Reservoir, Thornbury and Fairfield. Here is the most recent full year.
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria, LGA Criminal Incidents, year ending 31 March 2026 (released June 2026). Covers residential aggravated and non-aggravated burglary. Updated quarterly - check the latest figures.
Residential burglary across Greater Melbourne fell 14.7% in the year to March 2026, from 21,991 incidents to 18,761, and 29 of the 31 councils fell with it. Darebin was one of them. If you read somewhere that break-ins are surging, that page is quoting an older release.
The more useful pattern is where burglary happens rather than whether it's rising. Darebin ranks 8th of 31 Greater Melbourne councils on all recorded crime, but 7th on residential burglary. The same flip shows up right across Melbourne's wealthier east and bayside. Burglary follows what's inside the house, not the reputation of the postcode.
Preston sits on larger blocks than Northcote, with post-war brick and weatherboard homes, pockets of light industry, and heavy subdivision activity converting single houses into townhouse rows. Darebin's burglary rate fell 24.1% last year, the biggest improvement in the top ten.
The typical Preston block has a driveway running the full depth of the property to a rear garage. That's a long, narrow, unlit corridor beside the house with no view of it from anywhere. It's the most common weak point in the suburb and the one a two-camera front-facing setup completely misses.
Parts of Preston back onto light industrial land or the rail corridor, both of which are empty and unobserved outside business hours. If your rear boundary is one of these, cover it before you cover the front.
Subdivision has produced long rows of three and four dwellings sharing a single driveway. Rear units have no street visibility at all, and camera angles need to cover a shared space without pointing into a neighbour's windows.
Typical installed ranges for this part of Melbourne. Your exact figure depends on camera quality, cable runs and whether your roof cavity is accessible.
2 cameras covering the front door and driveway. The most common starting point.
4 cameras: front, rear and both side gates. Suits a typical 700sqm block.
6+ cameras for corner blocks, double-storey homes or larger rebuilds.
Ranges are indicative only and are not a quote. Your installer confirms pricing after discussing your property.
Tell us roughly what you're after and a licensed Preston installer will work it out with you on the call - free, no site visit, nothing to sign.
“Booked in fast, the installer explained everything clearly, and the price matched what I was quoted upfront.”
“Went from filling out the form to having cameras installed within the week - easy from start to finish.”
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The long side driveway running to a rear garage. It's unlit, invisible from the street, and it's where a front-facing two-camera setup leaves the biggest gap.
Yes - Preston and Preston West, plus Reservoir, Thornbury, Northcote, Coburg and Heidelberg West nearby.
No. Self-monitored systems with no ongoing fee are available, and your installer will explain what monitoring actually adds for your situation rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.
No. A quote is just a conversation - no payment, no contract, nothing signed on the call.
Tell us a little about your property. A licensed local installer will give you honest advice and a clear, no-obligation quote.