KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) - Malaysia's crime index, which consists of violent and property crimes, has decreased by 19.3 percent to 52,974 cases in 2021 as compared to 65,623 cases in 2020, official data showed Tuesday.
Violent crime which comprise murder, rape, robbery and causing injury, fell by 13.4 percent year on year to 11,495 cases in 2021, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement.
Meanwhile, property crime, namely house break-in and theft, vehicles theft, snatch theft, and other thefts, slipped by 20.8 percent to 41,479 cases in 2021.
Among the reasons for fewer criminal cases was the movement control order (MCO) with restrictions on social activities including cross-border movements between districts and states being imposed.
In addition, stricter enforcement activities by the authorities and community awareness both helped enhance protection from criminal threats.
For violent crime, robbery cases recorded the highest percentage decrease in cases, dropping 23.1 percent to 5,636 cases as compared to 7,326 cases in 2020.
This was followed by murder with a decline of 4.3 percent, and rape with 1.8 percent.
As for property crime, vehicle theft recorded the highest decrease of 37.8 percent to 13,342 cases as compared to 21,579 cases in 2020.
This was followed by house break-in and theft and other thefts, reporting a decline of 19.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. ■