More families victimized by common crimes in third quarter — SWS

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino families were victimized by common crimes in the third quarter of the year, results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

The poll, taken from Sept. 15 to 23, found 6.1 percent or an estimated 1.4 million families saying they fell victim to common crimes such as pickpocket or robbery of personal property, break-ins, carjacking and physical violence.

This was 0.7 point above the 5.3 percent or around 1.2 million registered in June 2018, and similar to the 6.1 percent reported in September 2017.

The September 2018 survey found 5.6 percent or about 1.3 million of families reporting victimization by common property crimes like pickpocket or street robbery, burglary or break-ins and carjacking.

This was 0.5 point above the 5.1 percent or about 1.2 million in June 2018, but below the 6.1 percent in March 2018. 

Those who were victimized by pickpocketing/street robbery also rose from four percent or 930,000 families in June to 4.6 percent or 1.1 million families in September.

Two percent or an estimated 474,000 of families were victimized by break-ins in September, up by 0.2 point from 1.8 percent or an estimated 431,000 families in June.

Among families owning any type of motor vehicle, the survey found that 0.6 percent or around 50,000 were robbed of it, hardly moving from 0.5 percent or about 52,000 in June.

The SWS survey said about 159,000 (0.7 percent) of families with members experienced physical violence.This was higher than the record-low 0.2 percent or around 45,000 in June 2018.

By area, families robbed of their personal property outside their homes rose by 1.6 points in Mindanao, from 4.7 percent in June 2018 to 6.3 percent in September 2018. This was the highest for the region since the 6.7 percent in June 2016.

Victimization by street robbery stayed highest in Metro Manila, up by a point from eight percent in June to nine percent in September, according to the SWS.

It also increased in the Visayas, from 0.3 percent in June to 1.3 percent in September.

However, it hardly changed in balance Luzon, from four percent in June to 3.9 percent in September.

Families who suffered break-ins rose in Mindanao, from 1.7 percent in June 2018 to 3.3 percent in September 2018. This was the highest since the 3.3 percent in September 2017.

However, it fell by one point in Metro Manila, from 2.7 percent to 1.7 percent in September.

It fell by 0.4 point in the Visayas, from 2.7 percent to 2.3 percent in September.

It was steady in balance Luzon at 1.3 percent.

Among vehicle-owning families in Mindanao, those who experienced carjacking rose by 1.4 points from 0.8 percent in June 2018 to 2.2 percent in September 2018. This was the highest since the 2.4 percent in September 2014.

It also went up in the Visayas, from zero case in June to 0.9 percent in September.

However, victimization by carjacking dropped in balance Luzon, from 0.7 percent in June to zero in September.

None of the vehicle-owning sample families in Metro Manila experienced carjacking from June to September, the SWS said.

Meanwhile, the pollster said cases of physical violence rose in all areas except in balance Luzon, or areas outside Metro Manila.

Families with any member hurt from physical violence rose in the Visayas, from zero case in June 2018 to 1.7 percent in September 2018. This was the highest since two percent in December 2016.

Victimization by physical violence also rose in Metro Manila, from 0.3 percent in June to one percent in September.

It also rose in Mindanao, from zero in June to 0.3 percent in September.

However, it was steady in balance Luzon, staying at 0.3 percent for four consecutive quarters since December 2017.

Meanwhile, the number of Filipino families who are afraid that robbers might break into their houses dropped from 55 percent in June 2018 to 52 percent in September 2018.

Families fearing burglaries, on the other hand, remained highest in Metro Manila at 66 percent, followed by balance Luzon at 53 percent, Visayas at 49 percent, and Mindanao at 44 percent.

Families fearing unsafe streets also stayed highest in Metro Manila at 59 percent, followed by the Visayas at 46 percent, balance Luzon at 45 percent and Mindanao at 42 percent.

As in past surveys, families fearing the presence of drug addicts remained highest in Metro Manila at 63 percent, followed by the Visayas at 42 percent, balance Luzon at 39 percent, and Mindanao at 30 percent.

The survey was based on face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide.

Victimization by common crimes reported in SWS surveys is much higher than the number of crimes actually reported to the police, the polling agency noted.