Public safety issues pull

crime stats up 2.15%

CORTES, Bohol, May 18 (PIA)—If only there were more defensive drivers than those undisciplined irresponsible crazed road maniacs, Bohol would have a much lower crime rate as crimes involving public safety has propelled issues of damage to property and physical injuries up, unnecessarily marking a 2.15 percent in total crimes recorded from January to May 13, 2024.

Although comparing January to March 13, 2024 as against the same period last year may not be as fair considering dissimilar times, it would show that total crime incidents in 2023, reached 2,190 cases while the same period this year netted 2,237, or some 47 cases more, thus the 2.15% increase in crimes.

Comparing the total crime incidents; comprising of peace and order and public safety transgressions as per constant police crime indicators, would also show that 2023 had 1,059 peace and order crimes while 2024 only has 957, a whooping 102 cases below for a -9.63 percent decrease.

Peace and order crimes, notably the 8 most common crimes against persons or property which the police are primarily focused into, include theft, physical injuries, robbery, murder, homicide, rape, motor and car-napping.

Due to police programmed street presence, regular patrols, anti crime campaigns and community relations activities, theft slumped down 20.3 percent with 22 less cases in the past: from 108 in 2023 to 86 in 2024.

In fact, of the 86 cases, 62 of these have been solved, 19 cases are cleared, meaning police have already identified the suspect but is yet to file the corresponding crime, and only 5 remain unsolved.

Physical injuries, which registered 87 cases in 2023, has now sunk to 69; 18 cases less or 20.7 percent decrease.

Of the 69, 59 have been solved, 11 cases are cleared.

Robbery, from 40 cases in 2023, dove to 26 cases in 2024 registering a 38 percent slump. Of the 26 cases, 18 are solved, 7 are celared and only 1 remain unsolved.

Rape, which topped the 47 mark in 2023 is now down to 23 for another 51 percent less cases. Of the 23 cases, 7 are solved, 15 have been cleared and 1 remain unsolved.

Carnapping in 2023 had one case, and none in 2024 to date, so that a -100 percent is now pegged, while homicide maintained its 2 cases in the last two years of crime case reckoning.

Of these focused crimes, only murder which grew from 10 to 16 cases in 2024, pinned a 60 percent increase and motorcycle napping with 3 cases in 2023 up to 11 cases in 2024.

While showing al already decent win in crimebusting, crimes involving public safety tells a different tale.

Traffic related incidents causing damage to property registered an uptrend from 511 in 2023 to 651 in 2024 for a 27.4 percent swing up.

On the other hand, traffic incidents leading to physical injuries registered 596 in 2023 to 598 in 2024, the 2 cases increase is o.34 percent.

Traffic incidents resulting to homicide logged 24 cases in 2023 to 31 cases in 2024, or a 29.17% increase.

Over all these, Bohol Police Commander Colonel Lorenzo Batuan assured Boholanos: there is no cause for alarm.

Most of the crimes against peace and order, except for motornapping and 1 case more of murder, have gone down, the police chief added. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. Although there is a 27.4 and 0.34 percent increase in crimes as shown in the public safety crime indicator (damage to property and physical injuries respectively), there is no cause of alarm, assures Police Col Lorenzo A. Batuan at the BPPO briefing now at Camp Dagohoy. Most of the crimes against peace and order, except for motornapping and 1 case more of murder, have gone down, the police chief added. (PIABohol)