The number of robberies being committed in South Australia has continued to fall significantly, the latest crime statistics have revealed.
The January rolling year statistics reveal a 10 per cent decline in robberies – or 51 offences – while reductions in other offence categories including assault, serious criminal trespass and theft were also recorded.
The figures also show yet another significant increase in the number of police officers being assaulted with a 22 per cent increase recorded – or 133 offences – from 604 to 737 incidents.
Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) John De Candia said the continuing decline in robberies and theft over successive reporting periods ensured a safer community.
"A reduction in these types of offences ensures there are less victims of crime being traumatised, many of whom often suffer lasting effects,'' he said.
"While many robberies are random, we have been successful in targeting recidivist offenders and then ensuring they are remanded in custody or subject to strict bail conditions to prevent further offending.
"And proactive work by frontline officers that has resulted in individuals responsible for multiple theft incidents has also helped reduce further offending.''
The rolling year figures reveal the number of theft related offences has continued to decline with a seven per cent reduction – or 3,737 offences – from 56,694 to 52,957 offences in the period.
Within that category theft from retail premises dropped by 12 per cent – or 2,863 offences – from 24,538 to 21,675 incidents reported. Motor vehicle theft and related offences dropped by one per cent from 14,793 to 14,598 incidents reported in the period.
One significant investigation in connection with the theft of power tools from multiple building sites across the southern and western suburbs resulted in the arrest of a man, 39, of no fixed address.
The man was charged with five counts of theft and multiple counts of illegal interference, illegal use of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession by Western District officers and refused bail. A significant quantity of power tools was recovered from the man's vehicle following his arrest.
Residential break-ins also reported a healthy decline with an 11 per cent decrease – or 685 offences – from 6,122 to 5,437 incidents reported in the period. Non-residential break-ins declined by four per cent – or 146 offences – from 3,563 to 3,417 offences reported in the period.
In the homicide category the number of murders reported decreased by 15 per cent from 13 to 11 reported incidents in the period. The number of attempted murders decreased by 10 per cent from 20 to 18 reported incidents. Manslaughter or driving causing death declined by four per cent from 24 to 23 incidents reported.
The overall number of assaults declined by one per cent. Aggravated sexual assaults rose by four per cent – or 67 offences – and the number of child abuse material offences reported continued to rise with an 11 per cent increase – from 231 to 256 offences reported.
On 1 July SAPOL updated crime recording and reporting systems to align with a new crime coding change required by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This has resulted in changes to the look of the published crime tables that include Person and Property offences and the display of other offences categories to ensure a nationally consistent approach to reporting crime. However, ABS counting rules have not changed.
