St Julian’s favourite hunting ground for pickpockets
Recent statistics show that during April and June, St Julian’s and Paceville accounted for nearly 43% of all pickpocketing cases in Malta
St Julian’s is not only Malta’s crime capital, but if recent statistics are anything to go by, the residential and tourist hub - together with neighbouring Paceville - is also the favourite hunting ground for pickpockets.
According to new figures published by the Sunday Times of Malta, St Julian’s accounted for nearly 43% of all pickpocketing cases during April and June, as 289 unsuspecting people fell victim.
Neighbouring Sliema accounted for 190 cases, followed by Valletta with 98 cases, St Paul’s Bay, Marsaxlokk.
The report further highlights that police registered 700 cases of pickpocketing in just these three months, nearly double than the 375 cases reported during the corresponding period last year.
According to official figures presented in parliament, a total of 8.347 crimes were reported in St Julians between 2011 and 2013. 6,486 of these cases were related to theft.
Apart from the highest incidence of violence against public officers, the locality also boasts the highest number of reports of bodily harm (663), damage to property (673), drugs (56), fraud (64) and sexual offences (50).
Moreover, in 2013, St Julian’s accounted for more than quarter of the reported thefts in Malta. Official statistics also show that a total of 25,593 crimes were reported during 2011 and 2013, making St Julian’s and Paceville the crime capital of the world.
