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Chapter 7
CRIME PROFILES
Key findings
- Burglars targeted homes at the times when people were most likely to be at home.
- White victims of burglary faced the least risk of violence while the burglary was in progress.
- Africans were more likely to experience violence and injury, probably because burglars were more likely to be armed, especially with guns, than was the case for whites and Asians.
- Car theft was concentrated in Durban’s residential areas.
- Most victims of car theft (76%) said the vehicle that was stolen had been fitted with a security device.
- It is encouraging that nearly half (49%) of car theft victims said their vehicles were eventually recovered.
- Hijackings were most likely to occur at intersections, followed by driveways or garages, or in the streets of a residential area.
- Most hijackings (56%) were perpetrated using threats only. Violence was reported by 44% of hijacking victims.
- Few cases of domestic violence were reported to the survey under the category of assault.
- A significant number of assaults occurred in public places, were carried out by more than one offender, and most victims did not know the offenders.
- Most assaults were committed without the use of a weapon. When a weapon was used, it was most likely a knife.
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A range of questions was put to victims about each of the crime types covered in the survey. Some factors were common across crime types (such as the day of the week when the crime occurred) but other circumstances (such as the type of weapon used and where the crime occurred) were often specific to particular crime types.
Burglary
Definition
Burglary applied only to the respondent’s home premises, and not to work or employment premises. Respondents were asked to recall their most recent experience "of having your premises burgled or broken into without your consent."
Property stolen
In 80% of cases, burglaries were successful (ie property was actually stolen). In the remainder of cases (20%), premises were broken into but nothing was taken.
When burglaries occurred
Burglaries were evenly spread throughout the year, with slight increases reported in March and October. Burglaries were more likely on Fridays and Saturdays and least likely on Sunday and Monday. Nearly half of the victims said they were burgled between 18h00-24h00 (46%). The next most common time of day was 12h00-18h00 (22%), followed by 06h00-12h00 (17%). Burglaries were least likely in the early hours of the morning (15%). It is thus not surprising that, in 45% of cases, someone was at home when the burglary occurred. People living in townships were more likely to be at home during burglaries (53%) than those living in suburbs (42%).
Use of violence
In instances when people were at home, violence was used in 33% of incidents. A further 20% of victims who were at home said only threats were used, and the remaining 47% said neither threats nor violence was used. African victims were much more likely to have experienced violence during the course of the burglary than were victims of other races (figure 9).
Figure 9: Use of violence and threats during the course of a burglary
The data on when burglaries occurred and the use of violence, suggests that offenders targeted homes at times when people were most likely to be at home. This has implications for the kind of protective and preventive measures that may be suggested for burglary.
Weapons used and injuries sustained
In nearly half of the incidents (49%), victims said that no weapons were visible. When victims did see weapons carried by the perpetrators, guns were most common (used in 22% of cases) with knives used in 14% of burglaries. In the remainder of instances, a variety of weapons were used, ranging from axes, sticks, pangas and clubs to physical strength.
Although the number of actual cases were small, burglaries committed against white people were least likely to involve weapons (table 6). Guns were also least likely to be used in burglaries of white people’s homes: 9% of whites reported that guns were used compared to 17% of Asian victims and 27% of African victims. Africans were also more likely to be injured (32%) than whites (6%).
Table 6: Type of weapons used during burglary, by race
|
African |
White |
Asian |
|
N |
% |
N |
% |
N |
% |
| No weapon visible |
100 |
44 |
24 |
71 |
30 |
47 |
| Gun |
62 |
27 |
3 |
9 |
11 |
17 |
| Knife |
49 |
21 |
4 |
12 |
14 |
22 |
| Other weapon |
17 |
7 |
3 |
9 |
9 |
14 |
| Total |
228 |
100 |
34 |
100 |
64 |
100 |
The data on when burglaries occurred and the type of weapons used suggests that white people were least at risk of violence during the course of a burglary. Africans faced a much greater chance of being exposed to violence, and perpetrators were more likely to be armed, especially with guns, than was the case for whites and Asians.
Robbery
Definition
Robbery or mugging included "the theft of any item from the person, where force or the threat of force is used."
Nature of the incident
Victims were most likely to have lost money in the robbery (33%), followed by a handbag or briefcase (27%) and accessories such as jewellery (21%). Men were more likely to report that they had lost money, while women were much more likely to report that they had lost a handbag or briefcase. The vast majority of victims (83%) said the property taken was not insured.
When robbery occurred
Levels of robbery were comparatively low between January and May. There was an upswing during June and July, followed by a slight downturn during August and September (which was still higher than the January to May data). Levels of the crime again increased as the end of the year approached.
As in the case of most of the crimes covered in the survey, robbery was most likely to happen on Friday and Saturday, and between 12h00-18h00 (41% of cases). Equal numbers of victims said they were robbed between 06h00-12h00 (26%) and between 18h00-24h00 (28%).
Where robbery occurred
Robbery was most likely to happen in the street outside shops or offices, followed by a place of work, a shop or an office (figure 10). Around one in ten victims said they were robbed either at public transport ranks or while travelling in public transport. Few robberies occurred at places of entertainment or in open spaces such as parks.
Figure 10: Where robberies occurred
Violence used and injuries sustained
Most robberies involved threats (57%) only, with the remaining 43% of victims saying that violence was used. Women were more likely to experience violence than men. The elderly were less likely to be subjected to violence than younger people, possibly because they are less likely to resist.
The most common weapon used was a knife (30%) followed by a gun (21%) (table 7). Most victims (70%) did not sustain injuries as a result of the crime. As in the case of burglary, African victims were more likely to be injured than any others. Of those who were injured, most reported light wounds (53%). Less than a third (30%) received hospital treatment and were discharged soon, while 16% were admitted to hospital for a period of time as a result of their injuries.
Table 7: Type of weapons used during robbery, by race
|
African |
White |
Asian |
Total |
|
N |
% |
N |
% |
N |
% |
N |
% |
| No weapon visible |
138 |
49 |
16 |
52 |
64 |
41 |
218 |
46 |
| Knife |
71 |
25 |
6 |
19 |
63 |
40 |
140 |
30 |
| Gun |
65 |
23 |
8 |
26 |
25 |
16 |
98 |
21 |
| Other weapon |
9 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
14 |
3 |
| Total |
283 |
100 |
31 |
100 |
156 |
100 |
470 |
100 |
Car theft
Definition
Respondents were told that "theft of a car, van or bakkie implies that no force (either implied or actual) was used against you to steal the car." If force was used, the questions dealing with car hijacking were put to respondents.
When car theft occurred
Incidents of car theft increased gradually throughout the week from Monday peaking on Friday and Saturday. The most common time of the day for vehicle theft was between 18h00-24h00 (40%), followed by 12h00-18h00 (31%), 06h00-12h00 (18%) and 00h00-06h00 (11%).
Where car theft occurred
Car theft appeared to be concentrated in the residential areas of Durban. The majority of thefts took place in driveways, garages or the gardens of peoples’ homes (figure 11). A significant proportion also took place in residential streets. Car theft appeared to be less likely — although still significant — in public parking lots or in the streets outside offices or shops. A comparatively small number of thefts took place at places of education or in open spaces.
Figure 11: Where vehicle thefts took place
Security devices to prevent car theft
The survey sought to determine whether victims had taken measures to prevent car theft. Most victims (76%) said that vehicles stolen from them had been fitted with security devices. The most common form of security was an immobiliser, followed by an electronic alarm, and gear or brake locks (figure 12). Only two victims reported the use of air surveillance tracking systems. The survey did not determine whether these were activated at the time of the theft.
Figure 12: Type of protection used against vehicle theft
It is encouraging that, when asked whether their vehicles were eventually recovered, nearly half (49%) said that they were.
Car hijacking
Definition
Survey respondents were told that "car hijacking implies that your car was taken from you using force or threats of force." The vehicle could have been a car, van or bakkie and respondents were asked about their most recent experience of hijacking.
Victims reported that just over half of the hijackings (51%) were successful. In the remaining 49% of cases, offenders did not succeed in stealing the vehicle.
When car hijackings occurred
As in the case of burglary and car theft, the number of hijackings increased throughout the week, peaking between Thursday and Saturday. Hijackings occurred at fairly constant levels throughout the day with 37% reported between 06h00-12h00, 29% between 12h00-18h00, 30% between 18h00-24h00 and 4% in the early hours of the morning from 00h00-06h00.
Where hijackings occurred
Hijackings were most likely to occur at intersections, followed by driveways or garages, or in the streets of a residential area (figure 13). As in the case of car theft, fewer hijackings occurred in streets outside shops and offices or in public parking lots.
Fiugre 13: Where hijackings took place
Victim details
Most victims (65%) were driving the vehicles when they were hijacked and most (61%) owned the car. Half (51%) were commuting for private reasons, with 42% saying they were going to work. A few (5%) were travelling on public transport such as minibus taxis when hijackings occurred.
Use of violence
Only threats were used in most hijackings (56%), with violence used in the remainder (44%). Guns were used in most hijackings (59%). Surprisingly, the use of other weapons such as knives, axes or pangas was reported by 20% of victims. The remaining 21% of victims said that no weapon was used or that they did not see a weapon. Although violence was used in nearly half of all incidents, only 28% of victims said injuries were sustained. Most of these injuries were relatively light — after receiving medical treatment, victims were discharged immediately. Hospitalisation occurred in only a small number of cases (5%).
Assault
Definition
Respondents were asked: "have you in the past five years been personally attacked or hurt by someone in a way that really frightened you either at home or elsewhere, such as in a bar/shebeen, in the street, at school, on public transport, at a shopping centre, or at your workplace? The person doing this could be someone you do not know, or it could be a relative, friend or family member." Weapons may or may not have been used in the incident, but no items should have been stolen during the assault. If this was the case, the questions on robbery would have applied.
When assaults occurred
Levels of assault were comparatively low during the first few months of the year with small increases reported during June and July and again in October and November. Compared to the crimes covered above, assaults were much more likely to occur on Friday and Saturday than on any other day of the week. Nearly half (49%) of assaults occurred between 12h00-18h00 with 37% reported during the night from 18h00-24h00. A further 11% occurred between 06h00-12h00 and only 2% in the early hours of the morning between 00h00-06h00.
Where assaults occurred
A quarter of all assaults were committed in the home — either that of the victim (14%) or someone else (11%) (figure 14). Places of entertainment were also common locations followed by streets in residential areas. A significant minority of victims said they were assaulted while travelling in public transport or while waiting at these facilities.
Figure 14: Where assaults occurred
The extent to which the assaults reported to the survey were random acts of violence, domestic violence or associated with youth gang violence, for example, is hard to ascertain from the data. It is nevertheless clear that a significant number of acts of violence occurred in public places throughout the city. Compared with offences that are committed in private, assault committed in public presents practitioners and the police with various intervention opportunities to prevent these crimes.
Weapons used and degree of injury
Assaults were most likely to be carried out without the use of weapons, or using physical strength only — a combination of hitting, punching, kicking or being wrestled to the ground (figure 15). When a weapon was used, it was most likely to be a knife, followed by a gun or a variety of other weapons such as sticks or pangas, for example.
Figure 15: Weapon used during assaults
Injuries were sustained in most cases (73%), although most of the injuries (54%) were light. Some 27% of victims required hospitalisation but were released immediately after treatment, and only 14% remained in hospital for a period of time.
Relationship between victim and offender
The survey sought to determine whether or not the victim was known in some way to the offender. Understanding the relationship between victim and offender has important consequences for crime prevention. Given that many assaults in Durban occurred in the home or at places of entertainment, it was likely that many victims would have known the offender. However, most victims (56%) said they did not know the offender. A quarter (25%) knew the perpetrator by sight and 19% knew the perpetrator by name.
Number of offenders
Most assaults (57%) were perpetrated by more than one offender. Four or more offenders were reported in 22% of incidents, two offenders in 18% of cases and three in 17% of incidents. The involvement of one offender was reported in 43% of assault cases. The high number of assaults committed by more than one person correlates with the large number of assaults that occurred in places of entertainment and in the streets in residential areas. It also correlates with the data that showed that most victims did not know the offenders. These results suggest that most assaults reported to the survey were not incidents of ‘domestic violence’.
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