Cost-of-living crisis blamed for soaring crime rates

Soaring retail and car theft have contributed to record crime figures in Victoria. (Diego Fedele, Rachael Ward/AAP PHOTOS)

Cost-of-living stress is helping to fuel unacceptably high crime rates in one state, police say, as violent youth offending jumps to a record level.

Soaring retail and car theft contributed to the highest number of offences recorded by Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency in the 12 months to the end of March.