Crime stats: Boksburg plunges deeper into lawlessness
The SAPS has released the country’s 2018/19 crime statistics, and the data which cover all crimes reported between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019, show which types of crimes have increased and decreased in Boksburg during the aforementioned period.
Robbery at residential premises
While the SAPS data, for the period 2018/19 show that Boksburg’s Dawn Park and Reiger Park policing precincts saw a decrease in robberies at residential premises; the city as a whole has seen an increase in this type of crime, with 241 cases recorded, up from the 218 the year before.
The Boksburg policing precinct saw the highest number of robberies at residential premises, with 101 cases, up by 34.7 per cent from the 75 cases reported the previous year. The area had been continuing its trend of increasing number of robberies at residential areas from the 20 cases reported during the 2011/12 year. It saw a slight decrease in 2016/17 and started to climb again in 2017/18.
Boksburg North policing precinct also saw a 39.3 per cent increase in robbery at residential premises with a total of 85 cases, up from the 61 cases recorded during the 2017/18 year. Robbery at non-residential premises rate has also risen significantly in the precinct over the year, with a total of 101, a 21.7 per cent increase compared to the 83 in the previous year.
In Dawn Park, robbery at residential premises significantly decreased by 34.5 per cent. The precinct recorded 38 cases, down from the 58 reported the previous year.
In Reiger Park, robbery at residential premises declined from 24 down to 17, a 29.2 per cent decrease. The highest number recorded in the area so far was 26 cases in 2016/17. Robbery at non-residential premises also decreased in the area by 52.4 per cent, from 21 cases the previous year down to 10 cases.
Burglary at residential premises:
A whopping 1 247 homes were burgled in Boksburg alone during the 2018/19 financial year.
In the Boksburg policing precinct, 335 cases were recorded, a 6.9 per cent decrease from the 360 reported the previous year. The burglary rates, however, remain high in the precinct, and the highest number recorded so far is 547 recorded in 2015/16. The burglary rates in the precinct have been drastically rising and slightly decreasing for the past 10 years.
The Boksburg North policing precinct also saw a 5.7 increase in burglary, from 384 cases the previous year up to 406 in the 2018/19 financial year.
Meanwhile in Dawn Park, burglary at residential premises decreased by 7.3 per cent, from 426 down to 395. Burglary remains a serious problem in the area, with the figures ranging between 393 and 562 since 2009.
In Reiger Park, burglary at residential premises had been declining for the past five years. A total of 272 cases were reported in 2014/15 and the type of crime continued its steady decreasing trend year by year, with a total of 111 cases reported in the 2018/19 financial year, a 19.6 per cent decrease compared to the previous year’s 138.
Carjacking:
Out of the 16 026 vehicles hijacked in the country during the 2018/19 financial year, a total of 162 motor vehicles were hijacked in Boksburg.
In the Boksburg policing precinct, carjacking made a drastic decrease of 45.5 per cent, from 55 cases down to 30. This was the lowest figure compared to all the other years – including the highest figure (135) recorded in 2009/10 financial year.
In Boksburg North precinct, carjacking decreased from 78 down to 59 cases, a 24.4 per cent decrease. This was a significant decrease compared to the highest carjacking rate (104) recorded in 2009/10.
In Dawn Park carjacking decreased from 71 to 63, an 11.3 per cent decrease, a drastic decrease compared to the highest number (117) recorded in 2013/14 financial year.
In Reiger Park carjacking, although the numbers remain low compared to the other precincts, the area saw a drastic increase from four cases the previous year up to10 in the 2018/19.
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