By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
Fear of burglaries and unsafe streets increased among most Filipinos as number of families victimized by common crimes within the past six months rose to 7.6 percent or at least 1.8 million, the 2018 last quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
In the recent SWS survey result released Friday night, it was noted that 7.6 percent of families reported victimization by any of the common crimes such as pickpocket or robbery of personal property, break-ins, carnapping, and physical violence within the past six months.
This is 1.5 points higher than the 6.1 percent or at least 1.4 million families recorded in September 2018, and the highest since the 7.6 percent in December 2017.
According to SWS, victimization by common crimes reported in its surveys is much higher than the number of crimes actually reported to the police.
Based on the survey fielded on December 16 to 19 last year, victimization by property crimes rose to 6.9 percent or estimated 1.6 million families who experienced pickpocket or street robbery, burglary or break-ins, and carnapping within the past six months.
This is 1.3 points above the 5.6 percent (1.3 million) in September 2018, and the highest since the 7.1 percent in December 2017.
The increase on victimization by property crimes was attributed to the rising of families victimized by street robbery at 5.2 percent (1.2 million) from 4.6 percent in September; and by break-ins at 2.8 percent (655,000) from 2 percent.
While carnap incidents among families owning any type of motor vehicle decreased by 0.5 points with 0.1 percent (9,000) recorded in December from 0.6 percent in September.
Meanwhile, physical violence also rose to 1.3 percent or at least 303,000 families whose members were hurt through physical violence within the past six months, up by 0.6 points from 0.7 percent in September 2018 and the highest since the 1.6 percent in March 2013.
Quarterly victimization by street robbery stayed highest in Metro Manila, up by 1.0 point from 9.0 percent in September 2018 to 10 percent in December 2018.
It rose in Mindanao and in Visayas at 8.3 percent from 6.3 percent, and at 2.5 percent from 1.3 percent, respectively, while it fell slightly in Balance Luzon at 3.3 percent from 3.9 percent.
Families who suffered break-ins also rose in Metro Manila (1.7% in September 2018 to 4.7% in December 2018), Balance Luzon (1.3% in September to 2.5% in December), and in Mindanao (3.3% in September to 4.2% December), while it fell in the Visayas from 2.3 percent in September to 0.6 percent in December.
Carnapping case among vehicle-owning familie also rises in Metro Manila from zero case in September to 1 percent in December, while zero case was noted in Balance Luzon, Visayas, and in Mindanao during the latest survey.
The 2018 fourth quarter survey also found 61 percent of Filipino adults fearful of burglary, nine points above from the 52 percent in September 2018 and the highest since the 63 percent in December 2016.
In general, the survey noted that 61 percent of adults agreed with the statement, "In this neighborhood, people are usually afraid that robbers might break into their houses."
By area, the proportion of those fearing burglaries remained highest in Metro Manila at 66 percent, followed by Visayas at 64 percent (from 49% in September), Balance Luzon at 63 percent (from 53%), and Mindanao at 52 percent (from 44%).
The same survey also showed that individuals fearful of walking the streets at night increased by eight points from 46 percent in September to 54 percent in December.
They agree with the statement, "In this neighborhood, people are usually afraid to walk in the street at night because it is not safe."
By area, the proportion of those fearing unsafe streets were highest in the Visayas at 60 percent (from 46% in September), followed by Metro Manila that stayed at 59 percent, Balance Luzon at 53 percent (from 45%), and Mindanao at 50 percent (from 42%).
However, the survey also found out that presence of many drug addicts in the neighborhood fell by two points at 39 percent from 41 percent in June and September 2018.
The December 2018 Social Weather Survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews among 1,440 adults nationwide: 360 each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.#