SA Property Related Crime – How Has It Changed
According to 2024 statistics, South Africa has the highest crime index in Africa and ranks as the fifth most dangerous country globally. The devastating reality is that each of us has been touched by crime in some way in this country.
But though it may not feel like it, crime – especially as it relates to property – has come down significantly in the past decade.
In this article, Hippo looked at the South African Police Service’s latest available annual report (2022/23) to see how property crime levels have changed in South Africa. The results may surprise you.
Then vs Now: Comparing Property-Related Crime in South Africa Over 10 Years
There are four categories of crime in South Africa – contact crime; contact-related crime, property-related crime and other serious crime.
The table below shows how incidents of property crime have changed in the past decade. As you can see, this type of crime has increased in the past 3 years but is significantly lower than it was in 2013/14:
| Year | Theft out of or from Motor Vehicle | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 143,801 | N/A |
| 2014/15 | 145,358 | 1.08% |
| 2015/16 | 139,386 | -4.11% |
| 2016/17 | 138,172 | -0.87% |
| 2017/18 | 129,174 | -6.51% |
| 2018/19 | 125,076 | -3.17% |
| 2019/20 | 118,213 | -5.49% |
| 2020/21 | 83,183 | -29.62% |
| 2021/22 | 81,504 | -2.02% |
| 2022/23 | 87,173 | 6.96% |
| Year | Stock-theft | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 24,534 | N/A |
| 2014/15 | 24,965 | 1.76% |
| 2015/16 | 24,715 | -1.00% |
| 2016/17 | 26,902 | 8.85% |
| 2017/18 | 28,849 | 7.24% |
| 2018/19 | 29,672 | 2.85% |
| 2019/20 | 28,418 | -4.23% |
| 2020/21 | 26,31 | -7.42% |
| 2021/22 | 25,001 | -4.98% |
| 2022/23 | 25,255 | 1.02% |
| Year | Property-related Crime (Total) | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 558,228 | N/A |
| 2014/15 | 553,487 | -0.85% |
| 2015/16 | 543,524 | -1.80% |
| 2016/17 | 540,653 | -0.53% |
| 2017/18 | 507,975 | -6.06% |
| 2018/19 | 495,161 | -2.53% |
| 2019/20 | 469,224 | -5.24% |
| 2020/21 | 369,745 | -21.20% |
| 2021/22 | 362,274 | -2.02% |
| 2022/23 | 375,97 | 3.77% |
| Year | Burglary at Non-Residential Premises | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 73,464 | N/A |
| 2014/15 | 74,358 | 1.22% |
| 2015/16 | 75,008 | 0.87% |
| 2016/17 | 75,618 | 0.81% |
| 2017/18 | 71,195 | -5.85% |
| 2018/19 | 71,224 | 0.04% |
| 2019/20 | 69,713 | -2.12% |
| 2020/21 | 65,508 | -6.04% |
| 2021/22 | 62,197 | -5.06% |
| 2022/23 | 62,588 | 0.63% |
| Year | Burglary at Residential Premises | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 259,784 | N/A |
| 2014/15 | 253,716 | -2.34% |
| 2015/16 | 250,606 | -1.23% |
| 2016/17 | 246,654 | -1.58% |
| 2017/18 | 228,094 | -7.54% |
| 2018/19 | 220,865 | -3.17% |
| 2019/20 | 205,959 | -6.74% |
| 2020/21 | 161,853 | -21.43% |
| 2021/22 | 166,720 | 3.01% |
| 2022/23 | 174,029 | 4.39% |
| Year | Theft of Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 56,645 | N/A |
| 2014/15 | 55,090 | -2.75% |
| 2015/16 | 53,809 | -2.33% |
| 2016/17 | 53,307 | -0.93% |
| 2017/18 | 50,663 | -4.97% |
| 2018/19 | 49,477 | -2.34% |
| 2019/20 | 46,921 | -5.17% |
| 2020/21 | 33,082 | -29.52% |
| 2021/22 | 34,852 | 5.35% |
| 2022/23 | 37,761 | 8.36% |
Other Crime Categories
If we look at 2022/23 figures that show our biggest crime scourges in South Africa, we can see that theft and house burglary are some of the most prevalent crimes in our country:
Here's the new table generated using the provided template and data:
| Rank | Crime | Number of Cases |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Burglary at non-residential premises | 62,588 |
| 9 | Theft out of or from motor vehicle | 87,173 |
| 8 | Commercial crime | 112,592 |
| 7 | Malicious damage to property | 115,118 |
| 6 | Robbery with aggravating circumstances | 146,125 |
| 5 | Drug-related crime | 162,122 |
| 4 | Burglary at residential premises | 163,493 |
| 3 | Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm | 169,374 |
| 2 | Common assault | 185,374 |
| 1 | All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 275,452 |
How To Keep Yourself Safe from Property-Related Crime in South Africa
Being aware of crime statistics is one thing, but there are other steps you can take to make yourself less likely to be a victim of property crime:
Stay alert: Awareness is your best ally. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in unfamiliar areas. Be conscious of the people around you and trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
Home sweet secure home: Make your home a fortress. Invest in good quality locks, install security gates, an electric fence and an alarm system. You might even consider CCTV. Remember to lock your doors and windows, even when you're at home.
Travel smart: Be cautious when you're driving or using public transport. Keep your car doors locked when you're on the road and put your valuables in the boot. Park in well-lit, busy areas. If you're using public transport, stick with the crowd and avoid getting off at isolated stops.
Know your numbers: We're not talking about crime stats here. Keep important emergency phone numbers, including those for local law enforcement, security companies, and trusted friends and family, handy.
Get training: Consider taking self-defence classes. Knowing how to protect yourself can boost your confidence and deter potential attackers.
Build a community: Get to know your neighbours. A tight-knit community looks out for one another. Join neighbourhood watch groups and engage with local initiatives aimed at enhancing safety.
Protect yourself financially: While you can't always prevent theft and robbery, you can insure your belongings to protect your pocket. If you don't yet have car, home or building insurance, now would be a good time to use Hippo to find the best coverage.
Sources
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