The third quarter crime statistics were recently released reflecting crimes reported to SAPS between October and December last year.
The figures for Brakpan reveal a a decline in some contact crimes such as murder and sexual offences but an increase in car hijackings and property-related crimes, which includes burglaries and vehicle thefts.
The Brakpan Police Station was featured on two national top 30 lists – theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle (position 28) and culpable homicide (position 25). Culpable homicide cases increased from three cases the previous year to 10.
The local SAPS also appears on the provincial top 30 lists in the following categories:
• All theft not mentioned elsewhere: position 27
• Bank robbery: position 29 (despite no cases being reported during this time period for several years)
• Burglary at residential premises: position 13
• Culpable homicide: position eight
• Other serious crime: position 25
• Sexual assault: position 19
• Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle: position 23
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 six cases the previous year to four.
• Sexual offences decreased from 24 to 14.
• Attempted murder decreased from eight to four.
• Assault GBH decreased from 32 to 27.
• Common assault decreased from 102 to 79.
• Common robbery increased from 12 to 17.
• Robbery with aggravating circumstances increased from 67 to 73.
In total, contact crimes decreased from 251 to 218.
Sexual offences
• Rape decreased from 16 cases the previous year to seven.
• Sexual assault decreased from eight to six.
• Attempted sexual offences increased from no cases to one.
• Contact sexual offences remained the same and no cases were reported.
Some subcategories of aggravated robbery
• Carjacking increased from six cases the previous year to 20.
• Robbery at residential premises increased from 12 to 14.
• Robbery at non-residential premises decreased from 12 to 11.
• Trio crime increased from 30 to 45.
• Robbery of cash-in-transit vehicle decreased from one to none.
• Bank robbery remained the same and no cases were reported.
• Truck hijacking decreased from five to three.
Contact-related crimes
• Arson remained the same and no cases were reported.
• Malicious damage to property increased from 47 to 48.
Total contact-related crimes increased from 47 to 48.
Property-related crimes
• Burglary at non-residential premises increased from 22 cases the previous year to 30.
• Burglary at residential premises increased from 74 to 126.
• Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle increased from 40 to 65.
• Theft out of or from motor vehicle increased from 34 to 38.
• Stock theft remained the same and no cases were reported.
Total property-related crimes increased from 170 to 259.
Other serious crimes
• All theft not mentioned elsewhere decreased from 214 cases the previous year to 201.
• Commercial crime increased from 83 to 98.
• Shoplifting remained the same at 48 cases.
Total other serious crime increased from 345 to 347.
• 17 community reported serious crimes increased from 813 to 872.
Crime detected as a result of police action
• Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition decreased from eight cases the previous year to seven.
• Drug-related crime decreased from 118 to 104.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased from 35 to 47.
• Sexual offences detected as a result of police action remained the same at no cases.
Total crime detected as a result of police action decreased from 161 to 158.
• Kidnapping decreased from 11 cases the previous year to six.
Information obtained from saps.gov.za
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