GANSBAAI – Lieutenant Colonel Winston Coetzee, Gansbaai police station commander, reported the station had recorded significant decreases in all crime categories.
This announcement came following the recently released crime statistics for the first quarter ending 1-30 April.
“During this period contact crimes, which include murders, attempted murders, assaults, robberies and sexual offences, decreased by 44,19%,” Coetzee pointed out. “No murders or attempted murders were reported over this period.
“Cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) decreased from 10 to nine cases, assault common cases dropped from 13 to seven and robberies decreased from 13 to seven cases. Rape cases stabilised on three cases.”
In the contact crime category, which includes arson and malicious damage to property, Gansbaai Police Station showed a decrease of 38,46%.
The property-related crime category, which includes housebreakings, theft from motor vehicles, theft of motor vehicles and stock theft decreased by 46,58%. Housebreakings at residential premises decreased from 57 to 21 cases, while housebreakings at business premises increased from four to nine cases. Theft of motor vehicles increased from zero to one. No stock theft cases were reported.
Coetzee reported that the other serious crimes category, which includes theft, commercial crime and shoplifting, decreased by 6,56%. Theft cases decreased from 44 to 27 cases. Commercial crime increased from 12 to 22 cases. Shoplifting cases increase from five to eight cases.
The category for crimes heavily dependent on police action for detection shows a positive increase of 116,83%. Drug-related crimes increased from 92 to 201 cases, while driving under the influence of liquor increased from three to 17 cases.
During the reporting period, preventative actions, including 305 Vehicle Check Points/Roadblocks, 471 searches at premises associated with drug trafficking, 455 operations at liquor premises, 1 502 visits to schools, 501 visits to farms and 152 visits to parolees were also executed.
Gansbaai police also conducted 199 awareness campaigns with the focus on GBV, community safety, school safety, anti-gangsterism, substance abuse (drugs and liquor), firearms, liquor and second-hand goods control and cybercrime (internet scamming).
“As police we are committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all residents and visitors to our town,” Coetzee said, “and will continue participating in endeavours to address the root causes of crime, take preventative action against and investigate any person who threatens the safety and/or security of the community and bring perpetrators to justice.”
