Crime in The Bahamas decreased by 11 percent between January 1 and May 27, 2013, compared to the same period in 2012, according to statistics released by Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade on Monday.
There were 4,763 crimes reported during this period last year compared to 4,238 reported this year.
According to Greenslade, violent crimes are down in all categories except attempted rape, armed robbery, which rose by five percent, and attempted robbery, which increased by 33 percent.
Crimes against the person increased by one percent and crimes against the property decreased by 13 percent.
Murders were down by 13 percent; attempted murders were down by 60 percent and rapes decreased by 10 percent.
There were 49 murders recorded this year so far compared to 56 this time last year.
There were four attempted murders to date, compared to 10 this time last year.
Police recorded 37 rapes so far this year and 41 rapes last year this same time.
The number of reported attempted rapes went from one case up to May 27, 2012 to 11 cases during the same time this year.
There were 457 armed robberies so far this year compared to 436 this time last year.
Robbery is down by four percent with 147 reported so far this year compared to 153 in the same period last year.
There were nine attempted robberies this time last year and 12 recorded for the year so far.
Burglary is down 24 percent; housebreaking is down 25 percent; stealing is down three percent; stealing from a vehicle is down 11 percent and stolen vehicle matters are down 16 percent.
Shopbreaking went up eight percent.
Careless
Greenslade said he believed that Bahamians have become careless as a people.
“We have turned away from some of the things that have always worked for us in this country and I fear that we are paying the price now for it,” he said.
“[I say] careless meaning disrespectful; careless meaning treading on the rights of other people.
“In a country where we should be socialized and we should act as decent human beings, we act, I daresay many of us, like animals.
“Anyone that can take a knife, turn to another person’s child and stick it into that person’s body, not just once or twice, but many times over, goes home and sleeps, cannot be like you and I.”
With a rising murder rate, the commissioner said the statistics should not give comfort to anyone.
“It doesn’t give me any comfort, it shouldn’t give them any comfort,” he said.
“There are far too many persons whose homes are broken into every day.”
He noted that there are too many crimes being committed in the country.
Courtesy of Travis Cartwright-Carroll of Nassau Guardian
