KNOX residents have been warned to stop being "blase" as new crime statistics show the area's crime rate has skyrocketed by more than double the state average in the past 12 months.
Robbery, burglary and motor vehicle theft increased the most, while assaults other than family violence was the only category of crime to decrease.
Crime across the state rose by 7.8 per cent, but in Knox increased by 15 per cent — one of the highest increases recorded.
Acting Inspector Peter Trichia of Knox police said residents should not be alarmed. One of the main reasons for the rapid increase was because family violence incidents were now recorded more accurately.
But he said a rise in burglaries across the municipality was due to people providing easy access for opportunistic thieves.
"Thieves might try and open 100 car doors and find two unlocked, or try opening 10 garage doors and open one — it's an opportunistic crime."
He encouraged residents to be particularly vigilant by locking their cars securely when they were parked.
"Don't be blase — you have to be aware of your surroundings."
Family violence crimes increased by almost 20 per cent, Acting Inspector Trichias saying one of the contributing factors was that the policy stating that all family violence crimes — even those causing no injuries — must be reported, was being "strictly adhered to" by officers.
Knox police have been targeting recidivist offenders and high-risk locations, he said.
There was some good news for Knox residents with no road fatalities recorded between October 1, 2011 and September 30 last year.
Injuries were also down 12 per cent and Knox highway patrol's Sergeant David Young said this was due to driver behaviour changing.
"We have the community to thank for that, without their behaviours on the road changing we can't get anywhere."