THE Benguet Provincial Police Office reported a spike in index crimes in the first eight months of the year.
During the 3rd Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting in the province on Wednesday, October 2, the police said index crimes went up 74.8 percent to 355 in January to August 2019 from 203 incidents in the same period in 2018.
Index crimes refer to offenses against people and property such as murder, rape, theft and robbery.
Total crime incidents in the province from January to August 2019 increased to 1,555 from 1,452 during the same period in 2018.
Police said the top three crimes were theft, which surged 206.38 percent to 144 cases from 47; physical injuries, 73 cases from 63; and robbery, which nearly doubled to 72 from 39.
Police said the crimes occurred mainly in homes and business establishments along the street, while those affected were mostly business merchants, laborers, and self-employed citizens.
In La Trinidad, capital town of Benguet, physical injuries cases increased to 47 cases compared to 30 cases in 2018. Theft surged to 127 as of August compared to 27 cases in the same period in 2018.
Murder and rape cases decreased.
In the municipality of Mankayan, catnapping cases increased from four to seven incidents. Murder in Buguias, Tublay, and Itogon also increased from zero to two reported cases while rape cases in Bokod went up from zero to two reported incidents.
From January to September 2019, Benguet police arrested 416 persons including 43 most wanted persons, while the anti-illegal gambling drive saw six cockfighting rings dismantled.
Road crashes in the first six months declined from 1,249 to 1,200, added the police report.
Police said the municipality of La Trinidad was the biggest contributor to the increase in crimes.
The report said police took drastic measures such as deployment of additional personnel. The Special Weapons and Tactics personnel will also augment patrol operations.
Engagements with stakeholders continue for full support in the implementation of the neighborhood crime watch.
Police to population ratio is at 1:594, or one officer per 594 residents.