28% increase in the overall crime rate in September compared to the same period last year

The overall crime rate increased by 28 percent in the month of September compared to the same period last year.

Acting Police Commissioner Sakeo Raikaci confirmed that increases were also recorded for serious crime by 6 percent, crimes against children by 8 percent and the number of registered cases of illegal drugs increased by 9 percent.

Crimes against women registered a 3 percent decline. A/CP Raikaci holds the position while acting commissioner Juki Fong Chew is away on an overseas assignment.

The top five most common crimes in the month of September were theft (487), assault occasioning bodily harm (298), burglary and aggravation (193), unlawful possession of illegal drugs (140) and criminal intimidation (71).

In a case of theft, 56 counts have been recorded where the suspect withdrew cash of approximately $9,000 from the 86-year-old victim’s account.

Of the 223 crime cases against women, 84 percent involved assault and 16 percent involved sexual offenses.

40 percent of the cases were committed in the home where the perpetrator was a spouse or had a de facto or partner relationship.

In crimes against children, 117 cases were recorded, with 90 of the victims being girls and 27 boys.

Of the registered cases, 66 percent were sexual offences, 29 percent were related to assault and 5 percent were related to other crimes.

15 percent were related to the household, involving the relationship between parent and child, uncle-niece/nephew and other family members.

The increase in the number of crimes against children was mainly due to the increase in the number of cases of abuse that actually caused physical harm (from 18 to 26 cases).