24,400 digital crimes
The police crime statistics (PKS) show all crimes with a digital component for the first time. In 2020, the police crime statistics registered a total of 24,398 crimes from cyberspace.
In 2020, police crime statistics identified 24,398 crimes committed on the Internet. The vast majority of the offenses related to the cyber fraud component (around 16,400 offenses). This also included fraud in connection with online stores, real estate ads or romance scams.
More cyber sex crimes and thefts from vehicles
The FSO statistics also show 32,398 burglaries and sneak-ins. However, the latter had decreased by around 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Since 2012, their number has been in constant decline. While most types of theft, such as theft without specification (down 14.6 percent) and pickpocketing (down 28.7 percent), had decreased, theft from/from vehicle (up 15.4 percent) and vehicle burglary (up 7.4 percent) had increased. E-bike thefts reported to the police had also risen sharply compared to the previous year (6082 crimes, +37.5 percent).
A large proportion (84.2 percent) revolves around cyber sexual offenses. A total of 15,714 injured parties were registered with the digital crimes. Over 50 percent of those affected were men.
In 2020, a total of 1668 serious violent crimes were reported: according to police statistics, 137 crimes or 8.9 percent more than in 2019 (1531 crimes). The increase was due in particular to the increase in attempted homicide (+45 offenses), rape (+34) and aggravated assault (+32).
Source: FSO
