Robberies and almost every category of theft have continued to decline in South Australia, the latest crime statistics reveal.
The September rolling year crime statistics also reveal declines in fraud related offences, property damage offences and homicide and related offences.
However, the number of residential and non-residential break-ins has continued to rise following a lengthy period of decline with a six per cent increase – from 12,209 to 12,981 – in incidents reported.
The rolling year figures also reveal the number of police officers assaulted while on duty has continued to rise significantly with a 23 per cent increase reported in the period – from 660 to 810 offences.
The number of serious assaults remained almost static with 78 fewer offences reported – from 16,472 to 16,394 offences. However, the number of common assault offences reported increased from 5,974 to 6,979 offences.
Within the serious criminal trespass category residential break-ins increased by seven per cent – from 5,572 to 5,943 offences – while non-residential break-ins increased from 3,378 to 3,576 offences.
Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) David O’Donovan said police were working proactively to identify and apprehend recidivist offenders responsible for such offending.
“A minority of offenders are responsible for the majority of this type of offending and we are constantly working to curb their activities through targeted operations and intelligence-led opportunities,” he said.
“However, I would like to remind homeowners that they need to remain vigilant about their own security by properly securing their homes and vehicles at night to remove opportunities for thieves.”
The figures reveal number of fraud and related offences declined by three per cent in the period – from 4,072 to 3,938 incidents reported – while property damage declined from 22,068 to 21,932 incidents. Within that category arson declined by eight per cent – from 1,014 to 932 offences – while property damage remained almost static with a decrease of 54 offences reported – from 21,054 to 21,000 incidents.
Homicide and related offences have continued to decline with a 17 per cent decrease in the period – from 54 to 45 offences. Within that category murder dropped from nine to eight offences while attempted murder increased from 19 to 20 reported offences. Manslaughter or driving cause death decreased from 26 to 17 offences.
The rolling year figures reveal sexual offences recorded another slight increase from 2,709 to 2,728 offences in the period.
