House Break Ins And Theft Top South Africa’s Crime List, Stats SA Reveals

South Africans have long spoken about crime as an everyday reality, and a new national report has just confirmed those concerns. The latest Victims of Crime Report from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) shows that house break-ins and theft of personal property are still the two crimes most commonly affecting households and individuals across the country.

Millions Of Households Affected

According to Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke, more than 2.6 million households reported house break-ins over the past year. That staggering number puts this category of crime firmly at the top of the list.

What is especially worrying is that while other types of household crime have seen declines in recent years, break-ins are on the rise. “Housebreaking continues to increase,” Maluleke explained, adding that it remains the most persistent problem reported in the survey.

Why Many Cases Go Unreported

Despite the high numbers, Stats SA found that many South Africans don’t bother reporting these crimes to police. A common sentiment expressed by survey participants was that reporting wouldn’t change anything. Some said it is difficult to prove a break-in, while others simply didn’t believe the police would act.

This underreporting feeds into the wider challenge of trust in law enforcement, a theme that often surfaces in public debate and on social media whenever new crime statistics are released.

Theft Of Personal Property Hits Individuals

On a more personal level, theft of belongings also emerged as a top crime, with an estimated 1.3 million incidents in the 2024/25 period. These range from pickpocketing in crowded taxi ranks and malls, to stolen cellphones on city streets. For many, the loss is not just financial but also deeply disruptive in daily life, particularly in a country where a mobile phone is often a lifeline for work and safety.

A Crime Trend With History

House break-ins have featured prominently in crime statistics for decades. Older South Africans often recall how burglar bars and high walls started becoming a standard part of home design in the 1980s and 1990s as break-ins became more common. Today, entire industries exist around private security, armed response, and neighbourhood WhatsApp groups aimed at keeping families safe.

What The Numbers Really Mean

Stats SA’s findings are more than just statistics. They highlight how crime in South Africa isn’t just about numbers on a chart it’s about homes violated, belongings lost, and trust eroded. The picture painted by the report is sobering: while the country has made progress in some areas, house break-ins and theft remain stubborn problems that continue to shape how South Africans live, build homes, and even move through public spaces.

Source:EWN

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com