Crime stats reveal alarming spike in kidnappings in Brakpan

The second quarter crime statistics were released on Monday reflecting crimes reported to SAPS between July and September this year.

Compared to the same time period as the previous year, the stats for Brakpan show a decline in crimes such as car hijackings and house robberies, but an increase in sexual offences and kidnappings.

Brakpan ranked high in some crime categories and was featured on four national top 30 police station lists – robbery at non-residential premises (position 25), culpable homicide (position 18), sexual assault (position 23) and truck hijacking (position 20).

Brakpan also appears on the provincial top 30 police station lists in the following categories:
• Crimen injuria: position 26
• Neglect and ill treatment of children: position 15
• Culpable homicide: position six
• Other serious crimes: position 27
• Robbery at non-residential premises: position 11
• Robbery of cash-in-transit vehicle: position 21
• Sexual assault: position seven
• Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle: position 29
• Truck hijacking: position 17

ALSO READ: Court gives Tsakane rapist 40 years

The full stats for Brakpan are as follows:

Contact crimes (crimes against a person)
• Murder remained the same at six cases.
• Sexual offences increased from 17 to 21.
• Attempted murder increased from six to nine.
• Assault GBH increased from 29 to 39.
• Common assault decreased from 75 to 63.
• Common robbery remained the same at 14 cases.
• Robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased from 116 to 88.
In total, contact crimes decreased from 263 to 240.

Sexual offences
• Rape increased from 12 cases the previous year to 13.
• Sexual assault increased from four to eight.
• Attempted sexual offences decreased from one case to none.
• Contact sexual offences remained the same and no cases were reported.

Some subcategories of aggravated robbery
• Carjacking decreased from 24 cases the previous year to 18.
• Robbery at residential premises decreased from 27 to 16.
• Robbery at non-residential premises increased from 11 to 18.
• Trio crime decreased from 62 to 52.
• Robbery of cash-in-transit vehicle remained the same and no cases were reported.
• Bank robbery remained the same and no cases were reported.
• Truck hijacking decreased from eight to five.

ALSO READ: Stolen vehicle recovered by EMPD during by-law operation

Contact-related crimes
• Arson remained the same at one case.
• Malicious damage to property decreased from 58 to 38.
Total contact-related crimes decreased from 59 to 39.

Property-related crimes
• Burglary at non-residential premises increased from 28 cases the previous year to 39.
• Burglary at residential premises decreased from 108 to 71.
• Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle increased from 49 to 53.
• Theft out of or from motor vehicle decreased from 64 to 39.
• Stock theft remained the same and no cases were reported.
Total property-related crimes decreased from 249 to 202.

Other serious crimes
• All theft not mentioned elsewhere decreased from 220 cases the previous year to 195.
• Commercial crime increased from 98 to 127.
• Shoplifting decreased from 38 to 26.
Total other serious crime decreased from 356 to 348.
• 17 community reported serious crimes decreased from 927 to 829.

Crime detected as a result of police action
• Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition remained the same at seven cases.
• Drug-related crime increased from 121 to 132.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased from 64 to 69.
• Sexual offences detected as a result of police action remained the same at no cases.
Total crime detected as a result of police action increased from 192 to 208.
• Kidnapping increased from nine cases the previous year to 25.
Information obtained from saps.gov.za