SWS: Families victimized by common crimes, cybercrimes increase

SWS logo / Reuters photo

MANILA, Philippines — Families victimized by common crimes and cybercrimes have increased within the past six months, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said on Saturday.

The survey conducted from September 14-23, 2024 found that 6.1 percent families said that they have been victimized by common crimes such as pickpocketing, break-ins, carnapping, and physical violence within the past six months.

The survey used face-to-face interviews among 1,200 adult respondents across Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

“This is 2.3 points above the 3.8% in June 2024 and the highest since the 8.1% in September 2023,” SWS said in a statement.

READ: Index crime rate in PH down by 61.87% from 2022 to 2024 – PNP

Further, the SWS noted a “new record high” of cybercrime rates among families at 7.2 percent, a 3.5 percent increase from June 2024.

“Victimization by common crimes reported in SWS surveys is much higher than the number of crimes reported to the police,” SWS added.

Meanwhile, 48 percent of the respondents said that they fear walking on the streets at night while 56 percent stated that they are afraid of burglars.

READ: Cybercrimes up by 21% during the first quarter of 2024, says PNP

The survey also found that the percentage of visibility of drug addicts fell to 41 percent from 46 percent in June 2024.

Responses of those who fear unsafe streets, burglars, and drug addicts were tallied the highest in Metro Manila.