Pretoria CBD SAPS among 30 stations plagued by serious crime

In the latest quarterly crime stats released by the police, the Central SAPS station ranks 24 out of 30 stations for serious crimes reported.

This is despite seeing a 2.9% drop in serious crimes this fourth quarter (January to March 2023).

CONTACT-RELATED CRIMES

Contact-related crimes in the area have seen an increase of 34.8% with malicious damage to property cases rising from 65 to 88.

Arson cases have remained the same with one case reported this quarter.

Property-related crimes have also increased by 9.9%.

Burglary at non-residential places has risen from 27 to 37, an increase of 37%. Burglary at residential places has increased by 66.7% from nine cases to 15.

Theft out of or from a motor vehicle cases have increased from 231 to 265 (14.7%).

Theft of a motor vehicle/motorcycle cases have decreased by 25.8% with 66 cases reported last quarter and 49 cases in this quarter.

Stock theft has remained constant at no cases reported.

DECREASES IN CONTACT CRIME – CRIMES AGAINST A PERSON.

Sexual offences have seen a decrease of 41.7%, from 24 cases reported last quarter to 14 this quarter.

Attempted murder cases have decreased by 11.1%, nine cases were reported last quarter and eight this quarter.

A total of 121 common assault cases were reported last quarter, a 2.5% decrease to 118 cases.

Common robbery cases also decreased by 8.1% from 124 to 135.

OTHER CONTACT CRIMES

Other contact crimes such as murder, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and robbery with aggravating circumstances have all increased.

Murder has increased from three cases to five, assault with GBH from 86 to 96 and robbery with aggravating circumstances from 129 to 140.

Rape cases reported have decreased by 15.4% from 13 to 11.

Sexual assault cases have decreased 66.7% from nine to three.

Contact sexual offences have decreased 100% from two to none this quarter and attempted sexual offences remained constant with no case reported these past two quarters.

Trio crimes have also seen significant decreases in this area with bank robberies and no cash-in-transit heists reported.

Truck hijacking has decreased from two cases reported to none.

Car hijacking has increased by 33.3% with six cases reported last quarter and eight in this quarter. Robbery at residential premises has increased from zero to three cases reported, while robbery at non-residential premises decreased by 51.6%, from 31 to 15 cases reported.

Other crimes that were not previously mentioned have decreased by 37.1% – 275 such cases were reported this quarter compared to last quarter’s 437.

Commercial crimes reported have seen a decrease from 166 to 141, a 15.1% decrease.

Store owners are advised to monitor customers’ comings and goings as shoplifting has seen a sharp increase of 463.2%.

Shoplifting cases stood at 19 but this quarter increased significantly to 107 cases.

Community-reported serious crimes have decreased from 1 528 to 1 483 indicating a 2.9% decrease.

Crimes detected as a result of police action have increased by 5.2%. Detection of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition increased by 20% from five to six cases.

Drug-related crime detection has increased from 210 to 227 cases indicating an 8.1% increase.

Detection of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has decreased by 13.9% and sexual offences detected as a result of police action have remained at zero for the past three quarters.

Kidnapping has also seen an increase of 25.0%, increasing from last quarter’s eight cases to this quarter’s 10.

Unlike Central, Sunnyside police station has shown a 19.6% increase in contact crimes

Sexual offences are up by 42.1% (19 to 27 cases), assault GBH by 37.5% (24 to 33), common assault up by 14.6% (137 to 157), common robbery up by 37.5% (80 to110) and robbery with aggravating circumstances are up by 15.9% (157 to 182).

The only decrease the station has seen in contact crimes comes from attempted murder which decreased from 10 cases to two (80%).

Rape cases are up 41.7% (12 to 17 cases), and sexual assault cases are up by 50.0% (six cases up to nine). One attempted sexual assault case was reported this quarter compared to none last, and no contact sexual offences were reported compared to one reported last quarter.

Car hijackings are up by 6.9% (29 to 31 cases), robbery at residential premises are up by 33.3% (12 to 16 cases) and robbery at non-residential premises are up by 13.3% (15 to 17).

Sunnyside’s trio crimes have remained constant this quarter. No cash-in-transit or bank robberies have been reported this quarter just like the previous and one truck hijacking was reported in both previous quarters.

No arson cases have been reported to the station in the past five quarters and malicious damage to property cases are down by 9.4% (53 to 48 cases).

Property-related crimes have seen an increase of 20.6% with theft out of a motor vehicle up by 33.7% (193 to 258) and theft of a motor vehicle/motorcycle up by 26.5% (98 to 124).

Burglary at residential and non-residential premises have decreased by 13.8% (65 to 56) and 17.4% (23 to 19) respectively.

No stock theft cases have been reported in the past five quarters.

All other theft cases not mentioned have increased by 3.3% (329 to 340), commercial crime is up by 40.3% (62 to 87) and serious crimes reported by the community have increased by 14.4% (1 292 to 1 478).

Shoplifting cases have decreased by 17.5% (40 – 33).

The total number of crimes detected as a result of police intervention has increased by 1.1%. Detected drug-related crimes have increased by 16.5% (109 to 127) and sexual offences detected as a result of police action increased by 30.0% (50 to 65).

Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition detection has decreased by 25.0% (4 to 3) and detected cases of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs have decreased by 26.4% (110 to 81).

Kidnappings have decreased by 75.0% (24 to 6 cases).

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