Recent figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) showed that the number of break and enters of dwellings, stolen cars and steal from persons were among the categories that recorded higher figures compared to 2008. While both the bureau and the Port's crime manager Peter Fox said that the level of crime had remained stable through 2009, many of the increases could be put down to serial offenders.

"We are aware there are some issues on the Tilligerry Peninsula in terms of break and enters of houses and car theft and we have put in place a number of measures to tackle that," Mr Fox said.

"We've recently held community meetings to raise awareness and have issued additional general duties police patrols as well as putting some of our plain clothes officers out there.

"We've also had the dog squad go through bushland."

Mr Fox said the jump in car theft could be directly related to the break-ins of houses.

"We're seeing a current trend where thieves can't get in to cars so they break into houses, steal the car keys and then take the vehicle.

"And that comes back to again, getting the message out there that people need to keep their keys secure and in a place that can't be found easily by intruders." Among categories to decrease was malicious damage with 1043 reports made to police compared to 1290. Mr Fox said this was largely due to a united approach taken by police, Port Stephens Council and various community groups who worked to make vandalism a pointless task.

"Part of the glory of vandalism is having others see your damage," Mr Fox said. "Groups that go out there and remove it within 48 hours take a large part of that glory away."