Police recorded 8,352 crimes in Metro in first 3 months of 2011

A total of 8,352 crimes were recorded in Metro Manila in the first three months of 2011, about 15 percent lower than the 9,852 cases in the same period last year, according to data from the National Capital Region Police Office.

The average monthly crime rate for the quarter was pegged at 23.61 per 100,000 population, lower compared to the 27.53 rate recorded in the same period last year.

The Quezon City Police District registered the highest crime incidence with 1,489 cases, a decrease of 30 percent from the same period in 2010.

The Southern Police District (covering the cities of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque and Taguig, and the town of Pateros) had 1,252.

The Northern Police District (covering the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) had 1,224 in the first quarter, down by 21 percent from the year before.

Manila had 1,053, a sharp 43-percent decline from 2010.

The Eastern Police District, which covers the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Marikina, had the fewest cases—431, 21 percent lower than in 2010.

Of the total number of crimes, two-thirds were index crimes, including murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, robbery, theft, car theft and cattle rustling. The rest were violations of special laws.

Of the 5,449 index crimes, almost a third, or 29.55 percent, were crimes against persons (murder, homicide, physical injury, rape), and the rest were crimes against property (robbery, theft, car theft).

Compared to the first quarter of 2010, Metro Manila registered fewer cases of homicide (110 cases), physical injury (1,259), robbery (1,587), rape (113) and theft (1,866), the data showed.

But the data also revealed that murder and car theft (the category under which carjacking falls) had risen by 13 and 14 percent, respectively: 162 murders and 443 car thefts in the first quarter, up by 56 incidents.