CRIME in the region has increased by more than 10 per cent in the past year, the latest Victoria Police figures show.
The 2012 crime statistics, issued last week, show crime was up 10.7 per cent in Maroondah and Yarra Ranges, with the high number of residential burglaries particularly of note.
In Yarra Ranges the number of burglaries rose more than 50 per cent [545 offences] compared with 2011 [356 offences].
Similarly, residential burglaries in Maroondah were up 27 per cent.
Maroondah's Inspector Peter Wheeler said the rise was a concern for police and he urged locals to be more vigilant.
"Please be active in locking your homes and vehicles to secure valuables and minimise opportunities for theft," he said.
"Likewise, take precautions to reduce your personal exposure to becoming a victim of crime."
Yarra Ranges' Acting Inspector Ian Milner said despite the high number of burglaries and motor vehicle thefts in his area, police were making an impact.
"We have seen some positive results in arrest rates for burglaries and these will continue to be a focus," he said.
Ringwood police senior sergeant Kevin Barrie said police received crime figures almost on a daily basis and it was not uncommon to see numbers in some categories going up or down.
"I wouldn't say they [figures] are cyclic, but they do come up and down over time."
He said police used figures like these to plan operations.
"If we see, for example, that assault against persons is up we'll do a lot of work on local licensed venues like pubs and clubs to try and reduce this.
"We find out what the current trend is and we jump on it straight away."