Knowing Your Crime Stats

Crime is a reality we live in; it undermines the quality of life and drives us to take extreme measures in protecting our loved ones, businesses and personal belongings. We strive to achieve maximum security to ensure content and safety in all aspects of our lives. Crime Awareness begins with knowing the statistics and using them to prevent crime in your area.

Typically crime is divided into five categories:

1. Contact Crime (crimes against people)

2. Contact-related crime (arson and malicious damage to property)

3. Property-related crime (residential and non-residential)

4. Other serious crime (commercial crime, shoplifting etc)

5. Crime detected as a result of police action (illegal possession of firearms, drug-related, drinking and driving)

Interestingly enough, according to the 2010/2011 SAPS Crime Report, South Africa has experienced a general decrease in all of the above areas. In 2009/2010, 2 121 887 cases of serious crime were registered, and in 2010/2011 this dropped to 2 071 487. This suggests a total drop of 2.4% (or 50 400 cases), which exceeds the 1.8% decrease per annum target set by Government.

Essentially though, the crimes we worry most about are contact crimes and property-related crimes. We arm ourselves daily against the possibility of muggings, snatch ‘n grabs, hi-jacks et al; and we concern ourselves over the penetrability of our work places and homes.

With regards to contact crime (which includes anything from armed robbery and assault to smash ‘n grabs) figures have generally dropped from 2009/2010. In particular, robbery with aggravating circumstances has dropped by 12% (per 100 000 of the population). With reference to the SAPS report, this is credited to police visibility (among other reasons), but also to general awareness of the public with regards to crime challenges around them.

Looking at business property penetration, statistics report that there has been a 5% decrease since 2009/2010. However, it is also interesting to note that most businesses targeted by crime are in the informal sector, as they are less protected and deal mainly in cash. That said it is only because of intelligent security systems in the corporate world that larger scale businesses are better protected, and the effectiveness of a complete security solution is invaluable to any company and directly influences employee happiness and performance.

Concurrently, research done by Business Against Crime (BAC) which is backed up by international studies has proven that as people are more affected by crime, the more they become hardened by installing better security systems. It is in the best interests of any business to realise their vulnerability as a potential target, and to take actions against this by utilising security service experts with access to the latest defence technologies.

Keeping abreast with crime statistics allows continual security adaptation, in which Servest Security applies an innovative approach in advanced technology to promote effective security to their clients. At Servest Security we stand behind all bastions of justice in our country, supporting the SAPS as well as organisations such as Business Against Crime in ensuring a safer work environment for all.