Singapore saw a rise in physical crime in the first six months of 2025, according to the mid-year crime brief released by the police on 26 August.
A total of 10,341 cases were reported between January and June 2025, a 5.4 per cent increase from 9,809 cases recorded in the same period in 2024.
Theft and molestation remained the top crimes of concern.
Knife-related incidents increased, with 75 cases in the first half of 2025, compared with 59 in the same period last year.
For the whole of 2024, there were 131 such cases. Police noted that most offenders were known to their victims.
A high-profile case in March saw a woman charged after allegedly attacking three men with a chopper at People’s Park Complex in Chinatown.
Murder cases fell slightly, with two reported in the first half of 2025, compared with three during the same period in 2024.
Sexual offences also rose.
Rape cases reached 233 in the first six months of 2025, up from 188 in the first half of 2024.
There were 401 reported for the whole of 2024. Police said, however, that there was “no discernible trend suggesting a degradation of law and order”.
Molestation cases increased by 21.2 per cent, reaching 807 in the first half of 2025, compared with 666 in the same period last year.
Victims knew their assailants in over half the cases. Public transport and footpaths saw higher numbers of incidents, with residential premises topping the list of locations.
Public entertainment outlets recorded 54 molestation cases in the first half of 2025, similar to the 51 cases in the first half of 2024.
Voyeurism offences dropped slightly to 252 cases, compared with 258 over the same six-month period in 2024.
A majority occurred in residential premises, with culprits often being former or current partners, household members or friends.
Theft cases continued to weigh heavily on crime statistics. Shop theft rose 4.2 per cent, with 2,097 cases in the first half of 2025, compared with 2,013 in 2024.
About one in every five physical crimes involved shop theft, making it one of the top offences among youth.
Supermarkets, convenience stores, minimarts, and health and wellness shops were common targets. Items stolen were often of low value, with more than half the cases involving losses below S$50.
Cold Storage Takashimaya saw the highest number of cases, with 36 incidents in the first half of 2025.
Cold Storage and Sheng Siong outlets both recorded above-average theft cases compared with other retailers.
Police attributed the rise at Sheng Siong to the use of facial recognition technology, which has helped identify more offenders.
Theft in dwelling cases also climbed, with 788 reported in the first half of 2025, up 5.9 per cent from 744 in 2024.
Most incidents occurred at commercial premises and dormitories, often involving strangers. Where offenders were known, they were usually colleagues or service providers.
Housebreaking, however, fell significantly. There were 52 cases in the first half of 2025, a 20 per cent drop compared with 65 in the same period of 2024.
Nearly half occurred in residential premises, mostly in HDB flats. Police urged landed estate residents to remain vigilant, citing recent targeting by foreign syndicates.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Leon Chan, director of the police’s operations department, reminded the public that community vigilance remains crucial.
“Everyone can play their part in keeping Singapore safe by staying alert and looking out for suspicious activities,” he said.
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