MOSSEL BAY NEWS -  According to the most recent national crime statistics, Da Gamaskop registered 19 attempted murder cases in three months.

Over the same period, KwaNonqaba had 73 cases of burglary at residential premises, while Mossel Bay had 34 shoplifting cases.

At a glance, these are some of the standout stats for the first quarter of the year (April to June). These latest stats give a breakdown of crimes registered at the over 1 100 stations across the country during these months, and indicate whether stations showed an increase or decrease in various crimes for the first quarter.

Of the over 1 000 stations, 151 are in the Western Cape, and four fall under the Mossel Bay municipal area. 

Da Gamaskop, Mossel Bay and KwaNonqaba were not only on the top 30 provincial list for certain crime cases registered; they were also in the top 100 nationally for these cases.

The 19 attempted murder cases at Da Gamaskop (an increase of three from last year's first quarter) saw the station listed as 17th highest in the province and 96th in the country. It is also only one of two Garden Route District police stations to make the provincial top 30 list.

KwaNonqaba is ranked 12th in the pro-vince and 72nd in the country for its 73 burglary cases, which rose by 15 cases from last year. 

Mossel Bay was listed 19th in the province for shoplifting and 88th in the country.

However, it is not all bad news. While some categories have increased at the four stations, the statistics largely show no difference or a decrease in other categories.

Great Brak River
This station saw decreases in the following crime categories: common assault, common robbery, arson, residential burglaries, theft out of a motor vehicle and commercial crime. The station also showed zero cases registered for the following crimes: murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, rape, carjacking, residential robbery, robbery at a non-residential premises, theft of a motor vehicle or motorcycle, and stock theft. Increases were seen in sexual offences, attempted murder, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (assault GBH), non-residential burglaries, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, drug-related crimes, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Mossel Bay
This station's crime statistics showed increases in sexual offences, common assault, assault GBH, residential robbery, theft of a motor vehicle or motorcycle, shoplifting, drug-related crime and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. There was a decrease in the following categories: common robbery, malicious damage to property, non-residential and residential burglaries, theft out of a motor vehicle, commercial crime and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
There were zero cases of murder, attempted murder, rape, carjacking, non-residential robbery, arson and stock theft.

Da Gamaskop
The station recorded a decrease in the following crime categories: assault GBH, common assault, common robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances, residential and non-residential robberies, arson, malicious damage to property, burglaries at residential and non-residential premises, theft out of a motor vehicle, commercial crime, shoplifting and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The crimes that increased were illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, drug-related crime, murder, attempted murder and sexual offences. There were no cases registered for carjacking, theft of a motor vehicle or motorcycle, and stock theft.

KwaNonqaba
Here there were decreases in cases of assault GBH, common assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances, robberies at residential and non-residential premises, burglary at non-residential premises, theft out of a motor vehicle, stock theft, commercial crime, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and drug-related crimes.
There was, however, an increase in driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, sexual offences, attempted murder, common robbery, malicious damage to property and burglary at residential premises.
There were no cases reported in carjacking, theft of a motor vehicle, stock theft and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. 

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’