Physical crime in Singapore rises 5.4% in first half of 2025, driven by theft and molestation

SINGAPORE: Singapore saw a 5.4 per cent increase in physical crime in the first six months of 2025, according to the mid-year crime statistics released by the police on 26 August.

A total of 10,341 cases were reported between January and June 2025, compared with 9,809 during the same period in 2024. Theft and molestation remained the leading offences of concern.

Police said that while several categories of crime rose, there was “no discernible trend suggesting a degradation of law and order”.

Knife-related offences and serious crimes

Knife-related incidents climbed to 75 in the first half of 2025, up from 59 in the same period last year. For the whole of 2024, there were 131 such cases.

Police noted that in most of these incidents, the offenders were known to their victims.

A widely reported case in March involved a woman charged after allegedly attacking three men with a chopper at People’s Park Complex in Chinatown.

Murder cases, however, saw a slight decline, with two recorded in the first half of 2025 compared with three in the same period in 2024.

Rise in sexual offences

Sexual offences continued to increase, with rape and molestation cases showing notable upticks.

There were 233 rape cases in the first half of 2025, up from 188 during the same period last year. Molestation cases rose 21.2 per cent to 807, compared with 666 in 2024.

Police said over half of molestation victims knew their assailants. The offences were most common in residential premises, followed by public transport areas, footpaths, and entertainment outlets.

Public entertainment venues recorded 54 molestation cases, similar to 51 in the same period last year.

Voyeurism cases fell slightly to 252, down from 258. Most occurred in homes, with perpetrators often being partners, relatives, or acquaintances.

Theft cases continue to dominate statistics

Theft remained a major driver of overall crime rates. Shop theft rose 4.2 per cent to 2,097 cases, compared with 2,013 last year.

Roughly one in five physical crimes involved shop theft, making it among the top offences committed by youth.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, and health and wellness outlets were the most common targets, with more than half of thefts involving items worth less than S$50.

Cold Storage Takashimaya reported the highest number of incidents at 36, while both Cold Storage and Sheng Siong outlets recorded above-average theft figures.

Police attributed the rise at Sheng Siong to facial recognition technology helping identify more offenders.

Theft in dwelling cases also rose by 5.9 per cent, from 744 to 788. Most incidents occurred in commercial premises and dormitories, typically involving strangers. When known to victims, offenders were often colleagues or service providers.

Fewer housebreaking cases but continued vigilance urged

Housebreaking cases fell sharply, with 52 incidents recorded in the first six months of 2025, compared with 65 in the same period last year — a drop of 20 per cent.

Almost half took place in residential properties, particularly HDB flats. Police cautioned landed property owners to remain alert, noting that foreign syndicates had recently targeted such homes.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Leon Chan, director of the police operations department, reminded residents that maintaining low crime rates required public cooperation.

“Everyone can play their part in keeping Singapore safe by staying alert and looking out for suspicious activities,” he said.