The Center for European and Security Affairs of the Institute for Democracy and Mediation  has conducted a research on the level of property crime during the last four years, 2008-2011.  The research is based on the data provided by the General Directorate of State Police and intends to deepen the analysis on crime trends in the country as well as to encourage debate on preventive measures.

Property crimes, mainly thefts, show a progressive increase in the last four years. Based on the methodology of work of the State Police, the research is focused on three main subcategories of crime; 1) shoplifting, including bank theft, 2) offence against private and/or public property and 3) violent burglary, which is the subcategory with the highest risk due to the form of performing the action leading to life endangerment.

More concretely, in the last four years, a total of 3381 cases of shoplifting were recorded. This offence is progressively increasing each year, reaching a multiplied total number for the years subject to this research.  What is of special interest in the increasing – decreasing trend of shoplifting is the fact that each high peak of the curve is followed by a significant decrease. This indicates that these kinds of offences are concentrated at certain periods of time, coinciding with the preventing measures or with the fight against commercial entities theft.

Shoplifting


Source: General Directorate of State Police
Research: Institute for Democracy and Mediation 

Other burglaries are also another group of crimes with an increasing tendency. These burglaries are multiplied each year and during 2008-2011, a total of 4574 cases were recorded. 

Other burglaries


Source: General Directorate of State Police
Research: Institute for Democracy and Mediation
 

The trend of the “violent burglaries” is equally critical. This severe crime, resulting in multiple victims has an increasing tendency. In the last 4 years, a total of 559 cases were recorded.

Violent burglaries



Source: General Directorate of State Police
Research: Institute for Democracy and Mediation