Theft, robbery cases top crimes: City crimes up by 37% – CCPO
CEBU, Philippines - The crime rate in Cebu City is higher this year compared to last year.
Statistics from the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) reveal that the crime rate in Cebu City from January to August has increased by a little over 37 percent, compared to the same period last year.
A total of 5,598 crimes, both index and non-index crimes, have been recorded for the first eight months of this year, which is 37.44 percent higher compared to last year’s 4,073 crime incidents for the same period. The total crime volume in the city for 2012 was 5,857, which include both index and non-index crimes.
Index crimes are crimes which are serious in nature, and which occur with sufficient frequency and regularity such that they can serve as an index to the crime situation. Crimes that are considered as index crimes included murder, homicide, serious and non-serious physical injuries, carnapping, theft and rape.
Non-index crimes, meanwhile, include violation of special laws.
Out of the 5,598 total number of crimes committed in the city this year, theft got the biggest chunk with 1,869 cases, compared to the 1,687 incidents for the same period last year. Robbery came in second with 766 incidents, compared to last year’s 750.
An increase in non-index crimes was also noted with 1,959 incidents recorded this year compared to last year’s 1,028 incidents.
Regional Intelligence Division chief Pablo Labra II said theft cases are expected to increase this month of September as well as the remaining months of this year, especially since people spend more money during the “ber†months.
The month of September marks the start of the holiday season, but likewise signals the increase of crime incidents particularly theft and robbery, the police official said.
“Unang factor atong nabantayan kaning September na, dunay daghang sales so daghang pag-pundokpundok sa mga tawo sa malls,†Labra stressed.
Labra urged local police units to intensify police visibility, noting that there is a lack of police presence in crime prone areas.
He said checkpoints, mobile, and roving patrols should be done regularly especially in areas where criminals lurk.
Apart from malls, robbery and theft cases also increased in the I.T. Park area, with mostly foreigners as victims, night spots along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, and in the downtown area, Labra said, adding that the suspects are usually minors or out-of-towners from neighboring provinces and from Mindanao.
“So atong kaigsoonan, kung magsuroysuroy, pahimangno lang magbantay sa ilang valuable things,†said Labra, further cautioning the public to secure their residences if they plan to spend long weekends in other places.
City police chief, Senior Supt. Noli Romana, earlier made known his plans to implement a revamp among city station chiefs because of poor performance in terms of police visibility and curbing illegal drugs and illegal gambling.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 director Danilo Constantino announced the start of the election gun ban on September 28 until November 12.
Constantino said the implementation of the gun ban intensifies their efforts against the proliferation of loose firearms, which, based on crime data, has been the weapon used in most crimes.
“Iba talaga ang effect kapag may firearm. It creates fear so we are implementing the gun ban,†the PRO 7 director said.
Police offices in Central Visayas have been preparing for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set next month.
Constantino said a minimum of two police officers will be deployed in polling centers and precincts and reaction forces will be stationed in every province in the region. — /QSB (FREEMAN)
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