Crime declines in Gauteng: police

Gauteng has seen a decline in serious crimes such as armed robberies, assault, murder, and hijacking, provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Mzwandile Petros said on Tuesday.

However, crimes such as theft out of vehicles, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs were on the increase.

Petros presented an overview of the 2011/2012 crime statistics to the Gauteng provincial legislature's community safety portfolio committee in Johannesburg.

There were 18 bank robberies in 2011/2012, compared to 25 in 2010/2011.

Cash-in-transits heists saw a 55 percent reduction, from 122 to 54 in 2011/2012.

There was a 37 percent reduction in ATM bombings, from 211 reported cases to 132.

The ATM bombings went through "zigzag" phases, said Petros.

"We find that ATM bombings increase when those we arrested in the first place are released... they go and commit the crime again."

Contact crimes such as attempted murder, murder, rape and attempted rape, and assaults with grievous bodily harm went down from over 2000 cases to 1437.

Although business robberies at big businesses had declined, there had been a spike in attacks and robberies of foreign-owned businesses, especially in townships.

"Businesses owned by foreign nationals are targeted due to the high cash flow on the premises."