Index crime volume in the first quarter this year showed lower statistics compared to the same period last year.
In the report from the Bohol Police Provincial Office during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting last Friday, it showed that index crime rate decreased from 21.1 percent in January last year to 18.93 percent this year; while the February record showed another decrease from 22.12 percent last year to 20.16 percent this year; and the March record also decreased from 23.28 percent last year to 19.07 percent this year.
Index crimes decreased from 278 in February to 263 in March, while non-index crimes went up from 394 to 459.
The overall statistics showed that the total crime volume in March marked a 7.4-percent increase to 722 from 672 in February.
Theft still tops the March statistics with 138 incidents, followed by physical injury with 53 incidents, and robbery with 42.
Rape ranked next with 13 cases, followed with murder cases that reached ten, carnapping with six incidents and homicide with one incident.
In the February record, the Bohol Police Provincial Office recorded 147 incidents of theft, followed by 51 cases of physical injury, 44 cases of robbery, 13 rape cases, 11 cases of carnapping, 10 murder cases, and two cases of homicide.
For non-index crimes, traffic related incidents decreased from 190 in February to 189 in March; while violations of special laws increased from 117 to 169, and other forms of non-index crimes increased from 87 to 101.
Separating traffic-related incidents, the BPPO statistics showed 190 in February and 189 in March wherein cases of physical injury increased by just one incident from 119 to 120, while cases of damage to property decreased from 62 to 55, and homicide increased from nine to 14.
Traffic-related incidents comprised 26 percent of the crime volume in March or 189 of the 722 cases recorded. Of the 722 cases, 533 were non-traffic-related.
In the 15 cases of homicide, 14 were traffic-related; while in the 173 cases of physical injury, 69 percent or 120 incidents were traffic-related and only 53 incidents were not traffic-related.
The campaign against illegal drugs remain the top contributor to police accomplishments wherein 47 operations had been conducted in March which resulted to the arrest of 57 persons, confiscation of 134.93 grams of shabu with estimated value of P1.59 million, and filing of 90 cases in court.
The police also conducted 27 operations against loose firearms which resulted to the arrest of nine persons wherein 14 high-powered firearms and 14 low-powered firearms were confiscated and 16 cases had been filed in court.
In the campaign against illegal gambling, the police conducted 37 operations which resulted to the arrest of 36 persons and filing of 34 cases in court.
In the campaign against wanted persons, the police arrested 27 persons, while seven surrendered.