POLICE say a rising number of theft offences may be related to cost of living pressures.

Crime Statistics Agency data released this week shows a decade high number of thefts in Mildura for the 12 months to the end of March this year, with more than 30 reported thefts on average each week.

Of the reported 1736 thefts in the preceding 12 months, theft from a motor vehicle was most prevalent with 5...