- Brackenfell crime statistics show significant improvements between July and September 2024.
- Declines were noted in contact and property crimes, while fraud increased by 51%.
- Awareness campaigns and enhanced security measures contributed to the overall crime reduction.
Recent crime statistics for Brackenfell, covering the period from July to September 2024, indicate a positive decline in criminal activity compared to the same period last year.
Contact crimes dropped by 21,6%, from 97 incidents in 2023 to 76 this year. Property-related crimes also saw a decrease of 11,6%, with reports falling from 155 incidents to 137.
The murder rate remained unchanged with one incident, while attempted murders decreased by two cases, from five in 2023 to three this year.
Sexual offences also saw a significant reduction, dropping by seven cases to a total of three.
Assaults with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm remained steady, with five reported incidents. However, 38 cases of common robbery cases were reported during this period.
The report also highlights 22 aggravated robberies, including one carjacking, two house robberies, and two business robberies.
In terms of property crimes, 38 home burglaries occurred, while business burglaries stabilised with 13 reported cases.
The vehicle theft category also saw a rise, with 27 cars stolen and 59 thefts from vehicles.
Of concern currently is the 51% increase in fraud, most of 225 cases due to email scams, banking scams, fake rental scams, fake pet scams and cloning of cards, according to police records.
Law enforcement efforts led to the detection of 58 crimes, including seven drug-related arrests and 51 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The category showed a positive increase of 13,7%.
Overall, these statistics reflect a generally positive trend in Brackenfell, with several crime categories showing improvement compared to last year.
Awareness campaigns
According to Brackenfell police records, common assault cases are primarily linked to domestic violence, while police contribute the overall decrease in contact crimes to ongoing awareness campaigns within the suburb.
Recent documents reveal that 12 of the 38 home burglaries occurred in Section 1, north of Old Paarl Road, with the remaining incidents in Sector 2, south of the road.
Shopping malls
In relation to the rise in motor vehicle theft, shopping malls have been a focal point for thieves targeting Toyota vehicles, while De Tuin has seen an increase in stolen VW Polos. Additionally, theft from motor vehicles has been prevalent in shopping malls and business parks. A decrease in property-related crimes is credited to recent police successes and the installation of additional CCTV cameras, which are now actively monitored. Collaboration between City law enforcement, security companies, and neighbourhood watches has been vital in these efforts.
Shoplifting incidents have also dropped by 17%, with most cases occurring at shopping malls and large retail stores.
TygerBurger contacted the Brackenfell CPF for comment on the current crime statistics as it relates to the community, but did not receive a response before going to press.
