Centurion stations in provincial top 30, third quarter crime stats reveal

Police minister Bheki Cele released the third quarter crime statistics for 2023/24 on Friday, February 16.

The statistics show crimes reported to South Africa’s 1 163 police stations from October to December 2023.

Tshwane district has seen an increase of 1.2% in contact crime categories, the highest in five years at 12 199 incidents.

Kidnappings were of particular concern showing a steady increase year-on-year to 415 cases compared to 380, the year before and 128 in 2019.

“Kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative commodity for organised crime in South Africa,” said Cele.

“The SAPS continues in its efforts to identify and arrest groupings linked to kidnappings, especially where ransom demands are being made. More than 300 suspects linked to these kidnappings have been arrested in the last two years.”

Trio crimes – car hijacking, and robbery at residential and non-residential premises decreased by 4.5% despite the number of car hijacking cases increasing by 23 incidents compared to the same period the year before.

Lyttelton SAPS placed in the top 30 stations in Gauteng for 12 crime categories.

The station reported 1 382 community-reported crimes, representing a 6.8% increase compared to a year ago.

Lyttelton placed third nationally for commercial crimes, as the station reported a 24% or 71 more cases compared to last year. The 367 commercial crimes reported represent the highest figure in five years.

The station placed in the top 5 for burglary at non-residential premises despite reporting 27 fewer cases compared to the same period a year ago.

Burglary at residential premises also saw a drop of 13.2%, despite ranking the station at number 20 in the category countrywide.

Property-related crimes were the lowest in five years, with a decrease of 3.8%, placing 9th in Gauteng.

Shoplifting cases were the highest in five years, with an increase of 47.8%, while theft not mentioned elsewhere increased by 4.8%.

Theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles increased by 41.2% with 96 incidents reported, while theft out of motor vehicles remained steady, reporting two fewer cases compared to 2022 at 131 incidents.

The station also placed in the top 30 in the province for crime injuria with 12 cases, 15th with nine cases for culpable homicide, and other serious crimes increasing by 17.2% at 723 cases, the highest in five years.

Olievenhoutbosch SAPS appeared in the top 30 in Gauteng for 10 crime categories yet some crime categories showed a decrease.

Olievenhoutbosch reported four fewer murder cases, 18 fewer car hijackings, 20 fewer robberies at residential premises, a 15.2% decrease in robberies with aggravating circumstances, and a 32.5% decrease in trio crimes.

The station placed 10th for culpable homicide, with 10 cases, and 18th for murder with 27 cases.

The region reported a 55.7% increase in theft out of motor vehicles, placing 13th in Gauteng, and 121 cases of truck hijacking.

There were four cases of neglect or ill-treatment of children.

The station’s results showed yet another increase in crimes detected as a result of police action, especially for driving under the influence, with 100 cases compared to only 14, five years ago.

Wierdabrug SAPS appeared in the provincial top 30 for 10 crime categories.

The station had the most burglaries at residential properties in Gauteng and fourth most in South Africa at 195, representing a 10.2% increase compared to last year.

Wierdabrug saw a 20.1% increase in theft not reported in other categories, a 23.2% increase in theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and placed 11th in the province for theft out of motor vehicles with 110 cases.

Robbery at residential premises increased by five, while two contact sexual offences were reported.

It placed 11th nationally for truck hijacking with six incidents.

Commercial crime increased by 41.3%, placing Wierdabrug fifth in the province and 8th nationally, with 284 cases.

Other serious crimes increased by 30.8% with 526 cases, 124 more than a year ago – the highest in five years.

There were eight cases of culpable homicide, placing Wierdabrug 24th in Gauteng.

Erasmia SAPS featured in the top 30 in Gauteng at 24th for three cases of stock theft.

The station reported a 2.2% drop in contact crimes while car hijacking increased by 9 incidents.

Laudium SAPS saw an increase in burglary at residential premises with 35 incidents compared to 19 a year ago.

This added to the 44.4% increase in property-related crimes compared to a year ago.

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