{"id":31326,"date":"2026-02-24T18:46:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=31326"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:46:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:46:51","slug":"more-rape-molestation-cases-contribute-to-rise-in-physical-crime-in-2025-shop-theft-incidents-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=31326","title":{"rendered":"More rape, molestation cases contribute to rise in physical crime in 2025; shop theft incidents fall"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013<!-- --> There were 479 rapes in 2025, up from 401 such assaults in 2024. <!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The number of molestation cases also rose from 1,427 in 2024 to 1,531 in 2025.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Overall, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/more-shop-theft-voyeurism-knife-related-cases-but-fewer-rapes-in-2024-police?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">physical crime cases increased from 19,969 in 2024<\/p>\n<p><\/a> to 20,857 in 2025, the police said in their annual crime brief released on Feb 24.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But the number of shop thefts, which made up 20 per cent of total physical crime cases, dropped.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The police said molestation was a top crime of concern, with more than half of these cases involving offenders known to victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Cases of molestation in residential premises, on public transport<!-- --> <!-- -->networks and at public entertainment outlets rose, while cases in shopping complexes decreased, said the police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The number of rapes also went up by almost 20 per cent<!-- -->, from 401 in 2024 to 479 in 2025<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most of the cases involved culprits known to the victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The statistics paint a worrying picture, with more than one rape and over four cases of molestation daily.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"More rape, molestation cases contribute to rise in physical crime in Singapore in 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I1EKbd3FpAk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Voyeurism cases decreased, from 519 in 2024 to 486 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most of these cases were committed in residential premises, shopping complexes and on public transport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For the majority of cases that took place in residential premises, the acts were committed by those known to victims, such as former partners, household members and friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The police said that despite the drop, members of the public should continue to remain vigilant and take note of details such as the perpetrator\u2019s appearance if they come across such cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They should also call the police if they witness such incidents and avoid confronting perpetrators on their own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Knife-related incidents saw a slight increase from 131 cases in 2024 to 137 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There were seven murders in 2025, compared with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/2024-wrapped-the-biggest-crime-stories-of-the-year-and-whats-next?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">five-year high of 10 in 2024<\/p>\n<p><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In five of the murder cases, the culprits were known to the victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">These included the case of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/yishun-murder-resident-who-allegedly-killed-neighbour-returns-to-scene-with-police-escort?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">Yishun resident who allegedly killed his neighbour<\/p>\n<p><\/a>, a mother of two young children, over a noise dispute.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Theft in dwelling, housebreaking and shop theft cases fell in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Cases of theft in dwelling dropped from 1,514 in 2024 to 1,500 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">However, the police said it remains a crime of concern, with the number of cases in foreign worker dormitories showing a noticeable increase.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Such cases saw a jump from 54 in 2024 to 85 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most of these involved fellow dormitory residents who shared rooms with the victims taking their personal items while<!-- --> <!-- -->they were asleep or preoccupied, added the police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Housebreaking incidents similarly saw a drop, from 118 cases in 2024 to 108 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most such offences are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/four-men-arrested-in-bukit-timah-believed-to-be-linked-to-housebreaking-syndicates?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">believed to be the work of syndicates<\/p>\n<p><\/a> that typically use the Rail Corridor as a place to hide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Another crime linked to syndicates is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/organised-crime-groups-behind-in-flight-theft-cases-singapore-police-force?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">in-flight theft<\/p>\n<p><\/a>, which saw an increase from two people charged in 2024 to six in 2025.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:972 \/ 1230\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8cc1df1a229c2c4777783472229f8cfd425f635f5b7fb211d278f86e255c9db3?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8cc1df1a229c2c4777783472229f8cfd425f635f5b7fb211d278f86e255c9db3?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8cc1df1a229c2c4777783472229f8cfd425f635f5b7fb211d278f86e255c9db3?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8cc1df1a229c2c4777783472229f8cfd425f635f5b7fb211d278f86e255c9db3\" alt=\"Graphic on physical crime statistics in 2025.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">As for shop theft, cases dropped from 4,237 in 2024 to 4,109 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">It remains one of the top offences committed by young people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most of the places hit included supermarkets, beauty shops, personal care shops, and health and wellness shops. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Half of the cases involved losses of under $50.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Stolen items were typically food, drinks, personal care products, apparel and accessories.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Shop theft accounts for a fifth of all physical crime here, and was a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/more-shop-theft-voyeurism-knife-related-cases-but-fewer-rapes-in-2024-police?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">rising concern in 2024<\/p>\n<p><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Chan, director of the police\u2019s Operations Department, said more stakeholders in the retail industry have been using technology to help identify offenders.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/abd37050ab9c477f8cc6a40b984c7d110820ab20e2bde0c4941ddf2850860c81?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/abd37050ab9c477f8cc6a40b984c7d110820ab20e2bde0c4941ddf2850860c81?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/abd37050ab9c477f8cc6a40b984c7d110820ab20e2bde0c4941ddf2850860c81?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/abd37050ab9c477f8cc6a40b984c7d110820ab20e2bde0c4941ddf2850860c81\" alt=\"(From left) Assistant Commissioner of Police Fanny Koh, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Chan and Mr Tan Puay Kern Vice Chairman National Crime Prevention Council at a media briefing on Feb 20.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">(From left) Assistant Commissioner of Police Fanny Koh, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Chan and National Crime Prevention Council vice-chairman Tan Puay Kern at a media briefing on Feb 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: GIN TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Supermarket chain Sheng Siong has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/sheng-siong-uses-facial-recognition-to-catch-shoplifters-identify-customers-whose-payments-failed?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">using facial recognition to catch shoplifters<\/p>\n<p><\/a>, and the police said health and beauty chain Watsons is now exploring the use of artificial intelligence to detect suspicious behaviour on its premises.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SAC Chan said: \u201cIn 2025, there were encouraging declines in offences such as shop theft and voyeurism, underscoring how vital community engagement and proactive crime prevention are to public safety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWith the support of stakeholders and the public, we are confident of maintaining Singapore\u2019s low crime rates and ensuring that Singapore remains one of the world\u2019s safest cities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/more-rape-molestation-cases-contribute-to-rise-in-physical-crime-in-2025-shop-theft-incidents-fall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 There were 479 rapes in 2025, up from 401 such assaults in 2024. The number of molestation cases also rose from 1,427 in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}