GEORGE NEWS - Although serious contact crimes like rape and murder remain on the increase countrywide and also in the George area, property-related crimes are also concerning.

This was confirmed with the release of the latest crime statistics for the first quarter of 2022/23 which represents data for the period from April to June this year.

While crime levels overall remained relatively flat compared with the same period 12 months prior, some categories have shown worrying increases.

Among the categories that are highly concerning was burglaries at residential premises. The statistics do not mention whether owners were at home at the time of the invasion.

A total of 39 638 burglaries were reported across the country over the period, up by 161 from 39 477 over the same period last year. In the 91-day period, this equates to 436 per day - or a burglary every three minutes.

In the George area, which covers the George policing area, Conville, Pacaltsdorp and Thembalethu, a whopping 295 burglaries at homes were recorded. This is 34 more reported cases than the same period last year. 

Burglaries at non-residential premises remain a thorn in the side of the law, but showed a slight decrease of five cases with 105 reported this year (110 last year).

Theft out of or from motor vehicles remain in the higher range with 151 reported cases. However, this is 32 fewer than during the same period last year.

Robberies at residential premises remained pretty much level this quarter, with 11 reported cases compared with last year's 12. This figure might however show an increase in the next quarter's figures after a spate of violent house invasions during the last two months in George.

Murder and rape

There has been an increase of five reported murder cases, with 26 murders reported collectively from all four police stations this quarter. This is seven more than last year's 19. 

Of these, Thembalethu has shown the highest number with the highest increase: 16 murders in total compared with eight last year. 

George reported five murders this year (two last year), Conville had one less than last year's six and zero murders were reported from Pacaltsdorp from April to June this year.

Sexual offences reported collectively from all four stations showed a slight decrease of seven cases from last year's 85 and reported rape cases dropped marginally from last year's 58 to 56 this year. 

Of these cases, most rapes (20) were reported in the Conville policing area (eight more than last year's 12).

Although still one of the highest rape figures in George, Thembalethu showed a decrease in reported rape cases this year, with 18 as opposed to last year's 27. George had a difference of one case less than in the same period last year, with 11 reported rape cases and Pacaltsdorp recorded seven rape cases, the same number as last year.

To view the complete national and local crime stats, please visit www.saps.gov.za.

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