The crime situation has improved significantly in 2006. Overall crime reported in 2006 fell by 10% when compared to 2005, from 37,093 to 33,393 cases.
All of the 9 index crimes1 registered decreases in 2006 from 2005, with the most significant decreases noted for rioting and the property offences of housebreaking, motor vehicle theft and robbery.
Theft and related offences 2, which accounted for more than half (61%) of overall crime reported, fell by 2,192 cases from 22,711 to 20,519 cases in 2006. The overall decrease was largely due to fewer cases of shop theft, theft from person and other theft3 . In addition, handphone crimes4 also dropped from 4,825 to 4,594 cases.
The total number of persons arrested decreased by 12% from 21,970 to 19,273. As in past years, foreigners made up 14% of those arrested. Youths made up 19% of total persons arrested in 2006, compared to 23% last year. About 4 in 10 arrests involving selected major offences5 were made with the assistance of the public.
1 Index crimes refer to the 9 offences of cheating and related offences, housebreaking, motor vehicle theft, outraging of modesty, robbery, snatch theft, rioting, rape and murder. They were selected for their reliability and higher reporting rates.
2 Theft and related offences include other theft, theft in dwelling (in hotel and others), shop theft, theft of bicycle, theft from person, etc and also includes the index crimes motor vehicle theft and snatch theft.
3 Other theft refers to offences under Sec 379 of the Penal Code Cap 224, excluding theft of bicycles, theft from motor vehicles and theft from persons.
4 Refers to cases where handphones or handphones and other items were taken for cases of theft from vehicle, theft from person, shop theft, theft in dwelling, cheating and related offences, robbery, housebreaking, snatch theft, theft as a servant and other theft under Sec379 of Penal Code Cap 224.
5 These major offences include murder, rape, outraging modesty, robbery, housebreaking, motor vehicle theft and snatch theft. |
