George and Conville police shine in proactive crime busts

GEORGE NEWS - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu released the fourth quarter's crime statistics for 2024/25 in Pretoria on Friday 23 May.

While national figures show an overall decline in murder, rape and attempted sexual offences, along with a notable decline in carjackings and robberies at residential and non-residential properties, Conville showed a sharp increase in house burglaries and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Compared with the rest of the country, the four police stations within the George Municipality (George, Thembalethu, Conville and Pacaltsdorp) show comparatively low crime rates, especially when it comes to big ticket items such as murder, attempted murder, carjacking, aggravated robbery and cash-in-transit heists.

However, the picture changes when shifting the spotlight to less serious crimes. George Police Station is a top 30 national hotspot for commercial crime (such as fraud, embezzlement, uttering, forgery, money laundering and cybercrime), neglect and ill-treatment of children, shoplifting and other serious crimes - a broad category encircling various theft-related offences.

With a 33.3% increase in commercial crime cases reported by the public, George station ranks fourth in the Western Cape and 23rd nationally. With three more cases compared with the same period last year, George is ranked third in the province and 26th nationally for reported cases of neglect and ill-treatment of children.

An 11.3% increase in shoplifting cases makes the George station the provincial runner-up and 18th placed station nationally. Offences classified under other serious crimes have increased by 8.8%, securing George the sixth place in the province and 26th in the country.
Crimes detected through police action

Conville Police Station's commander, Colonel Anton Stander

Successes resulting from police operations

When looking at crimes detected as a result of proactive policing such as stop-and-search operations, roadblocks, raids and undercover operations, George and Conville police stations were the top performers, both cracking the national top 30.

The police doing their jobs at George Police Station closed the net around 53.9% more criminal offences than the same time last year. The station also cracked down on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a 58.2% increase in cases detected - an achievement that places the station at the top of the provincial podium and eighth nationally.

Conville cracked the whip on drug-related crimes, detecting 13.7% more cases than the same period last year and securing the 24th position nationally.

Thembalethu Police Station is a clear standout for arson detection. With three more cases picked up than the same period last year, the station ranks seventh nationally and 11th in the province. Robbery with aggravating circumstances is also up by 15.6%, while contact crime is down by 11.6%.

Conville station also made this list with a whopping 46.3% more cases of assault GBH detected, along with a giant 59.5% leap in residential burglaries exposed. Conville's finset seem to have a grip on a non-residential burglaries, with 41 fewer detected incidents compared with the same period last year.

Good news it that property crime in the George precinct is down by 20.9% and theft out of motor vehicles has dropped by 8.8%.

George Police Station commander, Brigadier Zuluthando Nosilela