THE 2015/16 crime statistics were announced by the acting police commissioner Lt-Gen Khomotso Phahlane during a live broadcast on Friday, 2 September. In Highway areas robbery at residential premises showed an increase across all areas with Hammarsdale showing the highest percentage increase of 85,7 per cent followed by Westville at 44.9 per cent.
Below are crime statistics from five police stations in the Highway area.
Pinetown
Murder decreased by 40,5 per cent, sexual offences increased by 14,3 per cent, attempted murder decreased by 40 per cent, robbery with aggravating circumstances increased by 0,6 per cent, burglary at non-residential premises increased by 4,7 per cent, burglary at residential premises increased by 36,1 per cent, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle decreased by 37,4 per cent, theft out of or from motor vehicle increased by 11,7 per cent, carjacking decreased by 0,7 per cent, robbery at residential premises increased by 13,5 per cent and robbery at non-residential premises increased by 3,8 per cent.
Westville
Murder increased by seven cases, sexual offences increased by 7,1 per cent, attempted murder decreased by 40 per cent, robbery with aggravating circumstances increased by 16,8 per cent, burglary at non-residential premises increased by 130,4 per cent, burglary at residential premises decrease by 5,2 per cent, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle decreased by 11,4 per cent, theft out of or from motor vehicle decreased by 16,5 per cent, carjacking increased 57,9 per cent, Robbery at residential premises increased by 44,9 per cent and robbery at non-residential premises increased by 41,7 per cent.
Mariannhill
Murder decreased by 6,3 per cent, sexual offences decreased by 8,8 per cent, attempted murder increased by 72,1 per cent, robbery with aggravating circumstances increased by 0,7 per cent, burglary at non-residential premises increased by 36,4 per cent, burglary at residential premises increased by 11,7 per cent, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle increased by 28,9 per cent, theft out of or from motor vehicle increased by 57,4 per cent, carjacking decreased by 31,9 per cent, robbery at residential premises increased by 14,9 per cent and robbery at non-residential premises increased by 7,7 per cent.
Hillcrest
Murder decreased by 13,5 per cent, sexual offences increased by 4,3 per cent, attempted murder decreased by 35,7 per cent, robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 8,7 per cent, burglary at non-residential premises increased by 2,7 per cent, burglary at residential premises decreased by 5,1 per cent, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle decreased by 27,5 per cent, theft out of or from motor vehicle decreased by 4,5 per cent, carjacking decreased by 31,3 per cent, robbery at residential premises increased by 11,8 per cent and robbery at non-residential premises decreased by 34,3 per cent.
Hammarsdale
Murder increased by 12,5 per cent, sexual offences decreased by 22,2 per cent, attempted murder increased by 37,5 per cent, robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 35,6 per cent, burglary at non-residential premises decreased by 15,8 per cent, burglary at residential premises increased by 19,3 per cent, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle increased by 100,0 per cent, theft out of or from motor vehicle increased by 0,0 per cent, carjacking decreased by 75,0 per cent, robbery at residential premises increased by 85,7 per cent and robbery at non-residential premises increased by 0,0 per cent.
There were over 2-million charges laid with police in the last year. “The majority of some 2 million charges laid at police stations in the last year were reported by the community, as opposed to being detected by police,” said Major General Norman Sekhukhune, head of police crime research and statistics.
