274 cases of theft recorded last month while some cases remain unreported

274 cases of theft were reported to the Fiji Police Force last month while some incidents of theft and robbery remain unreported.

This has been highlighted by Acting Commissioner Juki Fong Chew who says cash, jewellery, mobile phones and electronic gadgets remain popular targets for criminals.

He says they take into consideration that some incidents of theft and robbery remain unreported, and they are urging victims to come forward and lodge reports, so they can be investigated and those responsible can be charged and taken to court.

Chew says targeting receivers of stolen goods will also be a focus area as a means to counter aggravated robberies, burglaries and theft.

The Acting Commissioner says the overall crime rate for April recorded a decrease of 13 percent where 1,147 reports were received compared to 1,314 reports for the same period last year.

He says the decrease resulted in the overall reduction of serious crime by 34 percent although a number of offences remain a concern in a few divisions.

Chew says crimes against women decreased by 12 percent while crimes against children decreased by 4 percent, however still a major worry are domestic related cases where women and children are victims of sexual and assault related crimes in their own homes.

He says while serious crime recorded an overall decrease of 34 percent, there were 8 offences recorded in the Southern, Western, Eastern and Northern Divisions.

The Force recorded 250 cases of assault causing actual bodily harm last month.