Theft Dominates Annual Crime Reports as July Becomes Busiest Month for Police
A mid-year surge in drug offences and theft pushed July to become the busiest month for law enforcement this year, with police recording 1,170 cases out of the 7,616 total incidents reported nationwide so far.
Official police statistics reveal a steady escalation in reported crimes leading up to the mid-year mark. Following 1,108 cases in January, the numbers dipped to 954 in February. However, reports steadily climbed in the subsequent months, registering 973 cases in March, 1,025 in April, 1,056 in May, and 1,104 in June, before peaking in July. The first weeks of August have added a further 226 cases to the annual tally.
The July surge was heavily driven by drug-related offences, which constituted 31.7 percent of the month's total with 371 reported incidents. Theft followed as the second most frequent crime during the month, accounting for 24.2 percent with 283 cases. Traffic accidents also remained a significant concern, with 240 incidents recorded in July alone.
Further breaking down the July figures, authorities received 80 reports of lost items and 61 assault cases. The month also saw 51 physical altercations, 24 cases of domestic violence, and 24 sexual offences. Embezzlement and robbery were less frequent, registering 18 and 12 cases respectively.
While narcotics spiked in July, broader year-to-date data shows that theft remains the most pervasive issue across the country. Of the more than 7,600 overall cases filed this year, theft accounts for 27.6 percent, totalling 2,103 incidents. Traffic accidents rank as the second highest category annually, with 1,846 reports filed, highlighting ongoing challenges in both property security and road safety.