Crime stats: Home burglaries spike in Brakpan
Statistics show there is still a long way to go in combatting crime in the town.
The first quarter crime statistics were released last week, reflecting crimes reported to SAPS from April to June this year.
It was a mixed bag for Brakpan police with the stats showing a decline in murder and carjacking cases, but an increase in crimes such as house robberies and burglaries.
While the local police station does not feature on any of the national top 30 lists, it does appear on the provincial lists.
Brakpan SAPS ranks 26 out of 30 in the all theft not mentioned elsewhere category, 20 out of 30 in the burglary at non-residential premises category, 18 out of 30 in the burglary at residential premises category, 28 out of 30 in the other serious crime category, and 22 out of 30 in the truck hijacking category.
The full stats for Brakpan are as follows and are compared to the same time period as the previous year.
Contact crimes (crimes against a person)
• Murder decreased from eight cases the previous year to five.
• Sexual offences increased from 15 to 18.
• Attempted murder increased from three to five.
• Assault GBH increased from 21 to 22.
• Common assault remained the same at 64 cases.
• Common robbery decreased from 17 to 14.
• Robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased from 95 to 79.
Total contact crimes decreased from 223 to 207.
Sexual offences
• Rape increased from 13 cases the previous year to 14.
• Sexual assault increased from two to four.
• Attempted sexual offences remained the same and no cases were reported.
• Contact sexual offences remained the same and no cases were reported.
Some subcategories of aggravated robbery
• Carjacking decreased from 21 cases the previous year to nine.
• Robbery at residential premises increased from 13 to 14.
• Robbery at non-residential premises decreased from 21 to 16.
• Trio crime decreased from 55 to 39.
• Robbery of cash-in-transit vehicle decreased from one case to none.
• Bank robbery remained the same and no cases were reported.
• Truck hijacking increased from two to four.
Contact-related crimes
• Arson increased from no cases the previous year to one.
• Malicious damage to property increased from 46 to 49.
Total contact-related crimes increased from 46 to 50.
Property-related crimes
• Burglary at non-residential premises increased from 39 cases the previous year to 40.
• Burglary at residential premises increased from 79 to 102.
• Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle decreased from 51 to 40.
• Theft out of or from motor vehicle decreased from 42 to 28.
• Stock theft decreased from three cases to none.
Total property-related crimes decreased from 214 to 210.
Other serious crimes
• All theft not mentioned elsewhere decreased from 222 cases the previous year to 214.
• Commercial crime increased from 67 to 92.
• Shoplifting increased from 30 to 45.
Total other serious crime increased from 319 to 351.
• 17 community reported serious crimes increased from 802 to 818.
Crime detected as a result of police action
• Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition decreased from 13 cases the previous year to 10.
• Drug-related crime increased from 112 to 134.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased from 32 to 57.
• Sexual offences detected as a result of police action remained the same at no cases.
Total crime detected as a result of police action increased from 157 to 201.
• Kidnapping increased from six cases the previous year to nine.
Information obtained from saps.gov.za
