Crime stats show a drop in crime in Mokopane
The statistics paint a dark picture for Limpopo, where the murder rate is the third highest in the country.
MOKOPANE – Murder, illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition as well as robberies at non-residential premises are the three crimes most committed in Mokopane, according to the latest crime statistics released on Tuesday by the South African Police Services.
For the residents of Mokopane it is a glass half empty or half full situation depending on how the 2014/15 crime statistics are viewed. There has been a clear drop of crime since 2005 to date in Mokopane, but there has been a rise in crime in certain categories this year in comparison with the statistics for the period April 2013 to March 2014.
According to the comparison the following crime categories have spiked within the last year:
Sexual offences have increased by 24,2 %, attempted murder by 300%, common robbery has gone up by 13, 7%, robbery with aggravating circumstances by 40,4%, malicious injury to property has spiked with 38,5%, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition is up by 125 % and drug-related crimes by 37,3%.
Driving under the influence of alcohol has increased by 8%, robbery at residential premises spiked with 9,1% and robbery at non-residential premises with 112,5%.
A comparison between the 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015 statistics shows a decrease in the following crime categories:
Murder has decreased with 14,3 %, and assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm by 24,2%.
Common assault is also down by 5,5%, arson by 25% and burglary at non-residential premises by 1,1%. Burglary at residential premises has also gone down by 9,5%.
Furthermore, theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles have decreased by 100% as the statistics states that no cases were reported in 2014 to 2015.
At the same time theft out of or from a vehicle decreased with 1,0 %, the commercial crime rate dropped down with 55,5% and shoplifting with 28,9%.
In total, out of the 25 crime categories presented 10 had decreased since the 2013 to 2014 year and the percentages for carjacking, truck hijacking and stock-theft stay the same.
The statistics paint a dark picture for Limpopo, where the murder rate is the third highest in the country.
With 777 people killed in Limpopo between April 2014 and March 2015 – 49 more murders from the previous year – the province recorded a 6,7% increase in this contact crime.
Col. Ronel Otto, police spokesperson for the province, told Bosveld the statistics encourage the police to work even harder to control and reduce the crime rate.
