Robberies, thefts up – assaults, burglaries down
Crime statistics between January and September 2010 showed an overall 3.4 per cent drop in serious crimes, but volume crimes rose by nearly 36 per cent when compared to the previous year.
Overall crime rose nearly 10 per cent for the first nine months of 2010 when compared to the same period for 2009.
There were some important bright spots for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in a year which has so far seen increasing public concerns about crime and the service’s ability to handle it.
Burglary cases dropped nearly nine percent when January through September 2010 was compared to the same nine months of 2009. Reports of assaults fell by nearly 20 per cent.
However, robberies saw a massive increase – some 86 per cent over last year. According to RCIPS crime stats there were 54 robberies reported through the first nine moths of this year, compared to just 29 last year. Attempted robberies also went up.
Thefts also went up nearly 60 per cent over the first nine months of 2010.
“The fall in serious crime in layman’s terms equates to 22 fewer victims of serious crime in the Cayman Islands; that’s got to be good news for our communities,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Stephen Brougham. “However, we are still concerned about the rise in robbery incidents and the huge increase in volume crimes such as theft and assault.”
Mr. Brougham said significant progress has been made in of some of the robbery cases; several of those matters are due to appear in court.
“Theft offences have risen by 57.22% – but the fact is that most thefts are opportunistic and by taking a few simple precautions people can drastically reduce the chances of them becoming a victim of this type of crime,” Mr. Brougham said.
Another notable fact from the RCIPS report, police recorded five instances of discharge of firearms and three cases of imitation firearm possession. Last year, there were none of either of those crimes reported as of 30 September.
On the traffic front, overall offences dropped by about 13 per cent, and police handed out about 20 per cent fewer speeding tickets.
Police also ticketed fewer people for drink driving and seat belt offences.
Through the first nine months of this year there were five fatal accidents; compared with just two at the same time last year.
“The fact that fewer traffic offences are being committed is also good news – it shows that our high visibility approach on the roads is helping to get the message across to many of our motorists,” Mr. Brougham said.
Please see more on this story in Monday’s editions of the Caymanian Compass…..
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