Arson offences soar 75 per cent in Victoria as firebombings become routine crime weapon
Police sometimes issue pre-warnings to firefighters as data shows 385 per cent surge in Stonnington
Arson offences in Victoria have surged by nearly 75 per cent since a decade low in 2021, according to data obtained by this masthead, while firebombings have become an everyday weapon of intimidation. Stonnington recorded a 385 per cent increase in arson attacks over the past decade, and a firefighting source said police sometimes issue advance pre-warnings to firefighters that a target somewhere in their service area could soon be hit.