Criminal activity
still at record level
PHILIPSBURG--Criminal activity in St. Maarten in 2007 remained only thirteen cases below the 3,035 cases reported in 2006, the highest number of reported crimes in a single year for more than ten years.
The crime statistics made available Friday by the Police Force of the Windward Islands revealed that 3,022 cases had been reported in 2007.
In comparison to 2006, when 578 (19.04 per cent) of reported crimes were solved, the police proved less successful last year. Over 2007, police detectives managed to solve 456 cases, or 15.09 per cent.
The crime statistics also show that there were four deaths by violence in 2007, far less than the 18 violent deaths that were recorded in 2006, the highest number ever recorded on the island.
By contrast the number of attempted manslaughters and murders went up from seven in 2006 to 16 last year.
Of all these cases, five were solved last year (20 per cent) compared to 15 cases (60 per cent) in 2006.
A significant increase in car thefts and mistreatment of persons was noted in 2006. These crimes remained at a high level in 2007 with 347 stolen cars (354 in 2006), and 464 cases of threats and mistreatment, 10 less than in 2006.
Reported robberies, which have plagued residents on the island for several years increased by 48 cases to 317.
The total number of thefts remained almost unchanged with 2,197 recorded cases, one less than in 2006. Most victims did not retrieve their stolen property, because the police only managed to solve 177 cases last year.
The number of reported sex crimes dropped considerably last year to 37 cases, where 48 cases were reported in 2006. Of these 37 cases, five involved sex with a child under 12 years, two concerned girls ages 12-15, and one involved an unconscious person. Twelve of these 37 cases were solved.
Also on the decline were the reported cases of fraud and embezzlement. In 2007, four cases of fraud and 10 cases of embezzlement were reported to the police, compared to 34 fraud cases and 21 cases of embezzlement in 2006.
Other crimes reported in 2007 include 196 cases of vandalism, 25 cases of extortion, and five cases of arson.
