Scammers lead the way in George

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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Times are undoubtedly tough, with many residents struggling to make ends meet. Unfortunately, some have turned to deceitful tactics, preying on the unsuspecting and desperate.

This unsettling trend is glaringly evident in the escalating commercial crime rates within George taken from the latest quarterly crime statistics that were released last week.

Commercial crimes can be categorised as something as simple as bank fraud and scams to more complex tax schemes and intricate cybercrimes.

Compared to the same period last year, April to June (first quarter), commercial crime in George has increased by 57.6% year-on-year. This is a rise of 68 more cases than in the first quarter of 2022/2023.

A massive jump from 118 reported cases to 186, which means more than two people a day have fallen victim to these type of crimes in George between April and June this year.

This increase has elevated George police station to the 18th position among the top 30 police stations grappling with commercial crimes.

Regrettably, George is not the only affected station. Neighbouring areas such as Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp, and Conville have also observed worrying trends. Thembalethu experienced an increase from three cases last year to 10 this year.

Pacaltsdorp's figures remained consistent at 14 cases, while Conville witnessed a jump from 15 cases to 23.

VIDEO: Alarming crime statistics: Commercial and contact crimes surge in George and surrounding areas

The dark side of online fraud

The increase in this type of crime can largely be attributed to online fraudsters who trap unsuspecting buyers and even rob them. In one of the most recent incidents, a young man from Conville, Daywin Jonas (26), who wanted to sell his car on Facebook's marketplace, was lured by prospective buyers to the outskirts of Pacaltsdorp and murdered.

Daywin Jonas' vehicle that he advertised on Facebook Marketplace.

Daywin Jonas.

The police have since arrested two brothers from Pacaltsdorp in connection with the disappearance and murder of Jonas. They will appear in the George Magistrate's Court again on 31 August for a formal bail application.

Social media users are once again warned to be very cautious when buying, selling, or offering services on social media platforms.

One way to protect yourself is to not agree to meet prospective buyers in remote areas. Verify the buyer of seller's online profile and do not share personal information.

Contact crimes

The collective data from George, Pacaltsdorp, Conville, and Thembalethu police stations paints a disconcerting picture about the rise in the number of crimes. These crimes (including murder, sexual offenses, attempted murder, assault, and robbery) have surged by 55 cases during this year's first quarter, reaching a total of 908 cases.

Notably, Thembalethu has experienced a concerning 45.8% increase in sexual offenses, primarily rape cases, with a total of 35 cases reported, up from last year's number of 24.

Of these sexual offences, 28 were rape cases. Three more murder cases were reported (16 to 19) and 12 more cases of common assault, which was already high last year (66 to 78).

Pacaltsdorp reported five murders, maintaining the same level as the previous year, and a slight increase of two additional sexual offenses, rising from 13 to 15. Assault GBH cases increased by 10, climbing from 38 to 48, and six more cases of aggravated robbery were reported, surging from 10 to 16.

George, while seeing a marginal decrease in murder and sexual offenses, reported nine attempted murder cases, a significant increase from last year's one case. Additionally, eight more cases of GBH and six more cases of common robbery were reported compared to the previous year.

On a relatively positive note, Conville Police Station reported four fewer murders (5 to 1) and nine fewer sexual offenses (25 to 16). However, of the 16 sexual offenses, 11 were cases of rape. Assault GBH saw a substantial increase, with 22 more cases reported than last year.

Property related crimes

Conville finds itself ranked 17th among the top 30 police stations nationwide for arson-related charges, marking a year-on-year increase from one case last year to five this year.

Thembalethu reported seven more cases of malicious damage to property, while Pacaltsdorp reported a staggering 18 more cases. George reported one less charge of arson (2 to 1) but a notable increase of 15 more cases of malicious damage to property.

Business and residential burglaries are a real concern for all residents. In the first quarter of this financial year, George experienced a concerning rise of 21 cases related to business burglaries, climbing from 59 to 80 cases. Pacaltsdorp saw a modest increase of five cases compared to the previous year's statistics.

However, Thembalethu and Conville showed a slight decrease in these crimes. Conville recorded one less case, down from last year's 32, while Thembalethu reported five fewer cases, down from last year's nine.

All four stations reported a decrease in home burglaries, with Conville notably recording a decrease of 41 cases (91 to 50) and George reporting a decrease of 11 cases compared to the previous year's 87. However, George saw a sharp increase in cases of theft from motor vehicles, with 94 cases reported in the first quarter of this year, up from last year's 80.

Conville reported five more cases (35 to 40), and Thembalethu showed an increase of nine cases (16 to 25). Pacaltsdorp was the only station to report a decrease, with cases dropping from 20 last year to 15.

Photo: Unsplash

Crimes detected as a result of police action

Crimes detected as a result of police action cover crimes discovered by active and pro-active policing, such as roadblocks and raids. This category covers crimes like the illegal possession of firearms and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

It seems like police, especially in Conville, Pacaltsdorp and Thembalethu have been working hard at bringing drug dealers to book. In Conville a whopping 80 more cases were opened in the fight against drug related crimes in this area.

Last year 116 cases were reported. In Thembalethu 83 cases were opened compared to last year's 61 and in Pacaltdorp 17 more cases with drug related charges were opened. George reported 143 drug related crimes detected this year.

Although there are some worrying increases in the local crime statistics, George still is the garden of Eden compared to the rest of the country.

These statistics underscore the urgency of addressing crime at both national and local levels. As the community comes to terms with these numbers, it is crucial to remain vigilant and support law enforcement efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens.