MILDURA police say a surge in the number of thefts last year has "absolutely" coincided with a continued rise in drug offending.

Since 2020, when the number of drug offences reached its peak at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, theft offences fell dramatically in response to lockdown orders but are now at a decade high and almost twice that of when the pandemic hit.

Theft offences rose by 44 p...