Housebreaking the most common crime

Housebreaking/burglary was the most common crime experienced at least once in 2010 by 4.5% of households, according to Statistics SA's Victims of Crime Survey 2011.

Housebreaking/burglary was the most common crime experienced at least once in 2010 by 4.5% of households, according to Statistics SA's Victims of Crime Survey 2011, released on Thursday.

This was followed by home robbery (2.6%) and theft of livestock (1.4%).

Assault (1.7%) was the most common crime experienced by selected individuals, followed by robbery excluding home/carjacking (1.6%).

The extent to which a household crime was reported to the police depended on the type of crime, Statistics SA said.

"Theft of a car was most likely to be reported (98.3%), followed by murder (93.2%).

About 60% of housebreaking/burglary, deliberate damage of dwelling and home robbery was reported to the police.

Household crimes least likely to be reported were theft of crops (16.6%), theft of livestock (36.3%), and motor vehicle vandalism (37.8%).

Statistics SA said consumer fraud (28.2%) was the least likely crime to be reported by selected individuals to the police, followed by robbery at 39% (excluding home and carjacking).

Another likely crime to be reported to the police was sexual offences (92.3%) followed by theft of motorbikes (80.0%).

Those surveyed said they did not report crime to the police for four main reasons.

Firstly, households believed that either the police would fail to solve the crime, or at times, police behaviour was inappropriate.

Secondly, some households did not report a crime to the police because they could not identify the perpetrator(s), while others feared reprisals from the perpetrator(s).

Thirdly, some households did not report a crime because it was not serious enough, others did not report it because items stolen were not insured or old or not valuable, while others claimed that they had solved the crime themselves.

Fourth, some households feared being blamed for the crime, i.e. it was partly the victim's own fault. There was also a fear of being exposed or embarrassed.

"Amongst those who didn't report crime to the police, some had indicated that they reported to a traditional authority, local gang, Community Policing Forum, insurance company, private security, local ward councillor or local vigilante group," Statistics SA said.

Source :  Janice Roberts - INet Bridge

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