Police registered 1.2 million crimes in 2010
The Dutch police registered nearly 1.2 million crimes in 2010, 5 percent fewer than in 2009. In the category of frequently occurring crimes, the police recorded 14 percent fewer vandalism and public order offences, 8 percent fewer violent and sexual offences and 3 percent fewer property crimes.
More housebreaking and moped thefts
Property crimes accounted for nearly 60 percent of the 1.2 million registered crimes. This category includes theft, burglary, fraud and robbery. With the exception of house burglaries and moped theft, all types of property crime decreased in 2010. The largest relative decrease was for bicycle theft: 16 percent. Schools, sports complexes and companies were also less affected by theft and break-ins in 2010.
In the category aggravated theft, the number of raids fell by 10 percent, and street muggings by 3 percent. Pickpocketing also fell. However, the number of house burglaries rose by 10 percent in 2010 and theft of mopeds rose by 9 percent.
Registered property crimes
Small chance of being caught for pickpockets, bicycle thieves and burglars
Every year one quarter of all registered crimes are solved. The chance of being caught differs strongly between types of crime. The chance is highest for violent and sexual offences (over 60 percent) as the victim can usually give a description of the offender(s). For vandalism and property crimes the risk is much smaller: 21 percent and 12 percent respectively.
The police solve about one in fifty cases of pickpocketing and one in twenty-five bicycle thefts. The risk of being caught is also low for house burglary (7 percent). As shoplifters are usually caught in the act, the solvency rate for this category is much higher (over 80 percent) than that for other types of theft.
Compared with 2009, the risk of being caught remained almost unchanged for nearly all types of property crime. The chance of being caught for raids fell from 33 to 26 percent, however.
Solvency rates for property crimes, 2010
Harry Eggen