Sharp drop in traditional crime

CBS did not research causal links between the coronavirus pandemic and crime figures; however, it is likely that last year’s crime rates were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken in that context. Pickpocketing became harder and the higher prevalence of working from home reduced the likelihood of house burglaring. Furthermore, it is very likely that the (partial or complete) store closings and limited access to shops are closely linked to the decline in shoplifting.

The decline in registered crime in 2020 is mainly attributable to a strong decrease in particular types of traditional crime. The most striking trend was the sharp drop (-47 percent) in pickpocketing cases, to a total of 7 thousand.

Furthermore, the police registered over 30 thousand domestic burglary cases (-23 percent) and 16 percent fewer incidences of street robbery to a total of slightly over 3 thousand. Last year, the police recorded 35 thousand shoplifting cases (-13 percent).

Online crime rising

In 2020, just as in the three preceding years, an increase was recorded in police-registered online crime including digital forgery, online fraud and hacking. The incidence of these types of crime combined rose by 54 percent year-on-year. Police crime records show these types of crimes to have more than doubled since 2017.

Decline in number of underage suspects

Last year, the police registered altogether 148 thousand crime suspects, 15 thousand of whom were minor suspects (-18 percent). The number of pickpocketing suspects declined by more than half among minors. The decline among minor (under 18) and young suspects (18 to 24 years) involved in domestic burglary and shoplifting by approximately one-third was stronger than among other age groups.

Mainly fewer house burglaries in Amsterdam

Among the four largest cities, the largest decline in house burglaries in absolute terms was recorded in Amsterdam (i.e. 1,000 fewer cases), where the number of house burglaries showed a year-on-year decline of 29 percent.

In The Hague and Rotterdam, the number of house burglaries declined by 23 percent, equal to the average in the rest of the country. The decline was much less pronounced in Utrecht at 10 percent.

By contrast, in 65 of the 355 municipalities, domestic burglary showed a year-on-year rise.