Harare (New Ziana) -Zimbabwe recorded a 4.6 percent increase in crime between July and September last year, with over 205 000 cases reported, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT).

The total number of offences rose to 205 925, up from 196 796 in the previous quarter, pushing the national crime rate to 1 356.6 per 100 000 people, compared to 1 296.5 in the second quarter.

Bulawayo recorded the highest crime rate at 2 506.1 per 100 000 people, nearly double the national average.

Other provinces with above-average crime rates included Harare, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Mashonaland Central, and Masvingo.

Crimes against public safety and state security were the most common offences, with 84 001 cases reported.

Property-related crimes, including theft, accounted for 48 566 cases, while 40 078 cases involved acts of harm or intent to harm individuals.

According to the Safeguard Crime Report for June last year, criminal incidents have increased by an average of 12.06 percent per month for the 4 months going back, with an increase of 4 percent from May.

Most criminal activity reported occurred between 1800 and 0500hrs with the majority of the incidents occurring around midnight.

New Ziana