GEORGE NEWS - The national crime statistics for the 2018/2019 financial year ("this year") reflect some dreadful increases compared with the 2017/2018 financial year ("last year"). According to the available data for the period April 2018 to March 2019, police recorded 21 022 murders in the country. 

This is 3,4% more than last year and based on the current population estimates it averages 57,6 murders each day at a rate of 35,8 murders per 100 000 people. 

A shocking 60% of these murders are weekend murders (from Friday to Sunday).

Sexual offences also set off the alarm bells. Nationally 2 312 more cases were reported - an increase of 4,6% throughout the country.

What it looks like locally
The murder rate at all four precincts in our area, George, Pacaltsdorp, Conville and Thembalethu, has risen. In George five more cases were reported this year compared to last year's nine. This is an increase of 55,6%. 

In Pacaltsdorp 15 murder cases were reported compared to last year's eight, an increase of 87,5%. Conville, with 19 reported murders and Thembalethu, with 44, both saw an increase of eight cases compared to last year. Common robbery, however, decreased by 20 reported cases this year.

Sexual offences
George and Pacaltsdorp both saw a decrease in reported rape cases. George reported a decrease of 23, from last year's 76 to this year's 53 (30,3%), while Pacaltsdorp had two less, from 49 last year to 47 this year. 

Conville and Thembalethu, however, both showed quite a sharp increase in reported rape cases. Last year Conville reported 67. This year the area shows a 25,4% increase to 84 reported cases. 

Thembalethu isn't far behind with 15 more rape cases reported than last year's 105. George also showed a decrease in sexual offences whereas Pacaltsdorp, Conville and Thembalethu increased with two, 30 and 12 cases respectively.

Crimes detected as a result of police action
The four stations show a decrease across the board pertaining to drug-related crime - in Conville a whopping 579. A total of 683 cases were reported in this financial year compared to last year's 1 262. In George there was a decrease of 468 cases and in Thembalethu there was a case difference of 285 (51% less than last year's 559). Pacaltsdorp saw the smallest decrease of 136 fewer cases reported this year.

Driving under the influence
George showed an increase of 9,3% in cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is 29 more cases than last year's 312, bringing the total to 341. Pacaltsdorp showed no difference from last year and remained on 230 cases while Thembalethu and Conville each showed a decrease. 

Thembalethu reported 11 fewer cases (16,4%) and Conville reported a whopping 78 fewer cases (41,7%).

Property and contact-related crimes
House burglaries in George showed a decrease of 82 cases from last year's 580 to this year's 498, a decrease of 14,1%. Robberies at residential premises showed a 100% increase from last year's seven reported cases to 14 reported cases this year. 

However, a massive 65-case decrease was shown in theft out of or from a motor vehicle in George - from 467 cases last year to 402 this year. In Thembalethu, robbery at residential premises, burglary at residential premises and theft out of or from a motor vehicle all show a decrease. 

In Conville, theft out of or from a motor vehicle showed a slight increase, as did burglary at residential premises. 

Pacaltsdorp showed an increase in burglaries at residential premises with 15 more reported cases, as well as an increase of 38 cases in theft out of or from a motor vehicle.

Read a related article: Red flags as murder rate increases locally

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