The Fiji Police Force reported a total of 635 theft cases in July. Among these, three incidents were particularly significant, allegedly involving stolen items worth over half a million dollars. These incidents involved multiple thefts from a restaurant, a supermarket, and a foreign exchange outlet, with six employees implicated across the three businesses.
Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew noted that the overall crime rate in July surged by 52 percent compared to the same month in 2023, and increased by 17 percent in comparison to June. This rise in crime is primarily attributed to theft, assault, and burglary incidents. The number of theft cases alone reached 635.
Regarding assault cases, Mr. Chew indicated a rise of 96 cases, with 347 assaults reported in July 2024, compared to 251 cases during the same month last year.
Additionally, drugs-related offenses saw a notable increase, with illegal narcotics cases rising by 42 percent. There were 188 reported drug instances this July, up from 132 the previous year.