Young Melbourne women shun houses for apartments amid crime surge

Melbourne women are increasingly turning to apartment rentals and purchases as a way to protect themselves in response to horror statistics of crimes against woman. Young women are choosing apartment living over traditional houses due to Melbourne’s crime wave, multiple experts say. Women looking to buy and rent are moving away from freestanding houses and opting for secure apartments amid the city’s escalating offence rate, across recent years. It comes amid growing concerns over women being the victims of horrific murders, sexual assaults and other felonies across Victoria. RELATED: How Melbourne’s gender pay gap fuels women’s housing crisis Revealed: where to see Melb’s best events free Thousands of Victorian wage earners are seeking help, especially women Latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows there were 79 reported murders of women in Victoria during the 12 months to March this year, the worst figure since 2017, when 92 such murders were reported. Assault offences reported by women hit a record 25,640 — the second 12-month period in a row that it topped 25,000. There were 9646 sexual offences reported by women, about 83 per cent of the state’s total and the highest level si...