Motorcycle theft tops Kuching’s crime chart

KUCHING: Motorcycle theft topped the list of the district police headquarters’ (IPD) most frequent crimes last year, with a total of 267 cases reported.

Following closely were other thefts, accounting for 263 cases.

Kuching police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah disclosed these figures during the Kuching IPD monthly assembly today (Jan 24).

Among the successes of 2023, he shared that his men managed to foil a vehicle theft syndicate, which led to four motorcycle theft cases being solved.

“In addition, the police successfully dismantled four robbery and burglary syndicates, resulting in the resolution of six vehicle thefts and 13 cases related to theft, robbery, and snatch theft.

“We also thwarted three cable theft syndicates, contributing to the resolution of five cable theft cases in and around Kuching,” he said.

Regarding the overall achievements of Kuching IPD in 2023, Ahsmon stated that there was a 6.97 per cent increase in property crime index cases, equivalent to 48 more cases.

In contrast, violent crimes witnessed a significant decline of 23.24 per cent, with 33 fewer cases reported.

Turning the focus to narcotics crimes in Kuching, a total of 2,329 cases were recorded, leading to 2,450 arrests for various drug offenses.

He added that the most substantial drug seizure in 2023 involved 86kg of syabu, with an estimated value of around RM18 million.

Looking ahead to 2024, Ahsmon affirmed Kuching IPD’s commitment to intensify efforts in preventing crime.

The goal is to ensure that police services are not only acknowledged but also felt by the residents, particularly in the Kuching district.