Rise in physical crime during first half of 2023, 25% surge in shop theft cases: Police
In the mid-year crime statistics, the Singapore police revealed that shop theft accounted for 18.1 percent of all physical crime cases.
SINGAPORE — Shop theft cases in the first half of 2023 have risen to 1,820, marking a 25.3 per cent increase from the 1,453 cases reported during the same period in the previous year.
These were revealed in the police's mid-year crime statistics, released on Friday (15 Sept).
The mid-year crime statistics showed an overall 5.4 per cent increase in total physical crime cases, which reached 10,080 between January and June 2023, up from 9,568 in the corresponding period last year.
Shop theft accounted for 18.1 per cent of all physical crime cases, with the majority of cases occurring at retail chains, department stores, supermarkets, health and beauty shops, mini marts, and convenience stores.
Stolen items commonly included food, alcoholic drinks, personal care products, clothing, accessories, and cosmetics.
Increase in theft in dwelling cases
Meanwhile, theft in dwelling cases increased from 788 to 1,010 during the first half of 2023, constituting 10 per cent of total physical crime cases.
Theft in dwelling cases involve theft or unlawful entry into a person's residence with the intent to steal property or commit theft-related crimes.
Most of these cases involved perpetrators known to the victims, such as tenants, roommates, family members, cleaners, and friends, said the police.
Residential premises saw 497 cases, up from 417 during the same period last year, with stolen items typically including cash, jewellery, mobile phones, luxury bags, and watches.
There were 306 cases reported at commercial premises, up from 208 in the previous year.
Evolving patterns in outrage of modesty cases
Outrage of modesty cases also increased slightly, with 757 cases reported between January and June 2023, accounting for 7.5 per cent of physical crime cases.
The number of cases occurring at nightspots more than doubled to 74 during the first half of 2023, compared to 36 in the same period the previous year.
Also, the outrage of modesty cases on public transport increased from 84 in the first half of 2022 to 97 in 2023, though this remained lower than pre-COVID-19 statistics, which saw 111 cases in the first half of 2019.
Voyeurism cases remained stable at 224 during the first half of 2023, compared to 220 cases in the same period last year, according to the police.
These incidents occurred primarily in residential premises (73 cases), shopping complexes (40 cases), and the public transport system (23 cases).
According to the police, cases at residential premises typically involved perpetrators known to the victims, while cases at shopping complexes and public transport often involved unknown perpetrators.
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