Shop thefts on the rise for third year in a row, even as physical crimes dipped in 2023
Nearly 4,000 theft cases were reported at shops in Singapore last year, making up almost one-fifth of all physical crimes.
SINGAPORE: The number of shoplifting cases in Singapore increased once again last year, making up the highest proportion of all reported physical crimes, according to statistics released by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Monday (Feb 19).
There were 3,939 cases of shop theft last year – a 21.4 per cent increase from the 3,244 cases in 2022. There were 2,652 cases in 2021 and about 2,500 cases in 2020.
However, the overall number of physical crime cases in 2023 fell by 1.1 per cent - from 20,193 to 19,966.
Shop theft was among the four crimes of concern flagged by the police, with the others being theft in dwelling, molestation and voyeurism. In particular, voyeurism cases – which accounted for 2.4 per cent of physical crime in 2023 – rose by 52 cases to 476.
SPF also noted that cases of robbery, snatch theft and motor vehicle theft decreased in 2023 as compared to the year before. No such cases were reported on 277 days in 2023 – an improvement of 36 days from 2022.
Statistics for scam and cybercrime cases in Singapore were released separately on Sunday, as rising scam numbers have overtaken many other types of physical crimes and skewed the overall crime indicator.
More than 46,000 scam cases were reported in 2023 – a jump of 46.8 per cent from 2022. On the other hand, the amount of money lost by victims fell by 1.3 per cent to S$651.8 million (US$484 million).
THEFT IN SHOPS, DWELLINGS
More than two-thirds of shop theft cases happened at retail outlets like department stories, supermarkets, pharmacies and minimarts, said SPF in a press release.Items typically stolen included food and beverages, alcoholic drinks, personal care products, cosmetics, apparel and accessories.
Shop theft comprised 19.7 per cent of the total physical crime cases last year.
In response to CNA's queries on the rise in shop theft, SPF said this could be the result of more CCTVs around shops, which means retailers can review stock discrepancies and lodge reports on theft after the crime has been committed. This also coincides with manpower challenges and the expansion of retail space in Singapore.
SPF said it has been “actively engaging” the public across all ages to raise awareness of the consequences of shoplifting, such as through school talks, the Coffee with a Cop initiative, house visits, and crime prevention talks.
In the meantime, 201 retail outlets have come on board the police’s Shop Theft Awareness for Retailers (STAR) programme as of Dec 31, 2023. These include cosmetics chain Sephora as well as Mustafa Centre in Little India.
SPF works with these retailers to analyse their stores’ risk factors and vulnerabilities to shop theft.
As for theft in dwelling, such cases dropped by 34 to 1,695 in 2023. They accounted for 8.5 per cent of total physical crime cases.
Most cases at residential and commercial premises – 60.2 per cent – were committed or suspected to be committed by culprits known to the victim, such as family members or tenants.
VOYEURISM CASES UP SLIGHTLY
The number of voyeurism cases – which include upskirt offences – rose by 52 cases to 476 in 2023, from 424 in 2022. They accounted for 2.4 per cent of physical crime cases in 2023.Voyeurs typically committed the offences at residential premises, shopping complexes and on public transport. The majority of cases at residential premises – 83.4 per cent – were committed by those known to the victims such as boyfriends, household members or tenants.
SPF said the number of voyeurism cases that took place on public transport remained stable despite rising ridership.
To combat such cases, advisory messages have been put up at the escalators of selected MRT stations starting this month. These include Dhoby Ghaut, Serangoon and Paya Lebar.
The police will also install more anti-voyeurism mirrors in public toilets. These mirrors allow toilet users to view the top of their cubicle without having to constantly look up.
They were installed in public toilets from March 2022, such as at Kallang Wave Mall and Punggol Regional Library.
FEWER MOLESTATION CASES
Meanwhile, the number of outrage of modesty – or molestation – cases dropped from 1,610 in 2022 to 1,528 in 2023. They accounted for 7.7 per cent of physical crime cases.More than half of molestation cases were committed by people known to the victims, and typically took place at residential premises, nightspots and public transport networks.
The number of cases on public transport dropped slightly from 178 in 2022 to 169 in 2023, despite higher ridership.
In November 2023, SPF launched the first police concept train that features cautionary messages displayed prominently on the floor and interior sides of the MRT cabin, warning would-be molesters of the consequences.
Last month, SPF and the National Crime Prevention Council also launched the fourth edition of the Safe Clubbing Campaign. The number of molestation cases at nightspots increased slightly from 129 in 2022 to 135 in 2023.
The campaign aims to promote a safe drinking environment for patrons and staff of public entertainment outlets, and equip staff with the knowledge and skills to safely handle intoxicated customers.
