bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Felix Chan

AN upsurge in the number of robberies, thefts and juvenile arrests has led to a 6.4 per cent increase in the overall crime rate for the first four months of this year over the same period last year.

But despite the rising levels of crime - including a 66.7 per cent increase in the homicide rate - officials are confident the crime rate will drop eventually.

The total number of reported crimes was 25,659 for the first four months of this year, up 1,551 cases, or 6.4 per cent, from last year, the Fight Crime Committee was told yesterday. Robberies rose by 11.3 per cent and thefts by 9.3 per cent.

Shop theft made up the bulk of the rise, with 2,431 cases reported between January and April this year, compared with 2,051 during the same period last year.

Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who chairs the committee, said that although the overall crime rate had continued to go up, the pace of the increase had slowed considerably.

'With the economy recovering, we believe crimes related to the economic downturn will be reduced,' said Mrs Ip.

The number of juveniles aged under 16 arrested rose by 18.2 per cent to 2,322, while those aged between 16 and 20 increased by 3.6 per cent to 2,245. Most were arrested for shop theft and assault.

'They are not involved in serious offences but there are signs that our youngsters are finding it difficult to resist temptation,' Mrs Ip said.

'I think we need to step up our co-operation at the district level with social work agencies, schools, teachers and parents' associations to intensify publicity and public education.' Shops will also be reminded to increase security, she said.

There were 15 homicides - an increase of 66.7 per cent - but arrests had been made in 12 cases, Mrs Ip said. Those arrested in some of the cases were known to their victims, she said.

Indecent assault cases rose by 14.6 per cent and criminal damage offences by 7.4 per cent.

Despite the worsening overall crime situation, detection rates had remained at around 40 per cent, which was a far better result than that of other Asian countries such as Singapore, Mrs Ip said.



Crime rate rises as juvenile arrests become increasing concern