Car owners can breathe a sigh of relief as vehicle theft trends in the right direction in some local areas.

Reports for major crimes either dropped or remained stable in Western Plains shires over the last two years, according the latest quarterly update from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Bourke, Coonamble and Narromine saw drops of more than 50 per cent for reported offences including vehicle theft, malicious property damage and break and enter.

They contributed to a 12.3 per cent drop in reported youth crime in regional areas across the state over the 24 months, with the Far West and Orana showing a dramatic 42.3 per cent decline.

In this region, the number of 10 to 17-year-olds police took to court for vehicle theft and break and entrer dropped between about 58 and 65 per cent.

Barwon MP Roy Butler said he believes police operations accounted for most of the decline.

“Barwon communities have become gradually safer over the last 20 years, but there is still a long way to go until residents can live free from the fear of crime,” Mr Butler said. 

“The community expects people to be jailed for serious crimes, but we also know that it costs $1.2 million a year to keep a young person in Juvenile Justice.

Reported motor vehicle thefts over the two years up to June 2025. 'N.c' indicates rates that the BOCSAR did not calculate in their data release. [SOURCE: BOCSAR]

“The community expects people to be jailed for serious crimes, but we also know that it costs $1.2 million a year to keep a young person in Juvenile Justice.

“For lower-level crimes, magistrates should be required to send young offenders to residential diversion programs that are outside of towns on country, led by elders. 

“These programs show young people an alternative path, with the potential to improve their own lives while also bringing down local crime rates."

For motor vehicle theft, Bourke Shire recorded the biggest decline by over 33 per cent over the 24 months.

The Local Government Area saw a 57.1 per cent dive in stealing from motor vehicles and a 56.9 per cent dip in theft from retail stores.

For malicious property, Bourke also saw a 39 per cent drop in reports, along with 38 per cent in Lachlan and 14.7 per cent in Narromine.

Coonamble recorded a 47.1 per cent fall in break and enter reports.

Reported motor vehicle thefts over the two years up to June 2025. 'N.c' indicates rates that the BOCSAR did not calculate in their release. [SOURCE: BOCSAR]

While NSW recorded a 8.8 per cent jump in sexual assault reports up to June 2025, almost no Western Plains shire saw a notable increase.

The only exception over the two-year trend was Warren, which went from zero reports in 2023-24 to eight in in 2024-25.

The new data comes as the NSW parliamentary Committee on Law and Safety continues their regional youth crime inquiry.

The inquiry has held hearings in Bourke, Broken Hill and Sydney since it began in March 2024, and is set for another in Tamworth.

The committee is scheduled to hand down their final report in early 2026.