A total of 4 564 contact crimes were reported to among the police stations servicing the Northcliff Melville Times distribution area. Brixton, Fairland, Linden, Parkview and Sophiatown police stations’ reported crimes, have shown that these stations recorded a total of 4 564 contact crimes. Compared to the 2018/2019 period, these stations collectively recorded 970 more contact crime cases, suggesting that crime increased between April 2019 and March 2020. These are crimes are defined as crimes in which the victims themselves are the targets of violence or property is targeted and the victims in the vicinity during the commission of the crime are subjected to threats and use of violence. According to the statistics, the stations also recorded 47 murders during this time with Sophiatown Police Station contributing over 60 per cent of these with 30 cases. This is an increase of four while Brixton Police Station recorded six more cases, giving them a total of six. Linden and Parkview recorded four and one less murder respectively while Fairland police only had one reported murder last year. The statistics therefore suggest that, on average, just under four murders (3.91) were reported per month in the Northcliff Melville Times distribution area. Parkview was the only station out of the five to report a decrease in rapes after recording one less rape, bringing the total to six. The other four stations all experienced increases in this crime with Linden Police Station recording the lowest increase with one, giving the station a total of 24. Fairland recorded three more cases to give them a total of five while Brixton recorded 46 cases, 25 more than the last year. Sophiatown had an additional 20 cases during this period to give them a total of 53. A collective total of 134 rapes were reported at these stations, giving the Northcliff Melville Times distribution area an average of 2.79 rape cases reported a week. Crimes relating to motor vehicles has also been a concern to the police, security companies and vehicle owners. Over the stats period, the five stations recorded a collective total of 1 456 theft of motor vehicles cases and 1 816 theft from motor vehicle cases. Linden Police Station recorded the most cases in both crimes as they had 409 theft of motor vehicle cases and 689 theft from motor vehicle reports, an increase of 70 and 116 respectively. Fairland police recorded the least cases with 160 and 172 respectively.
