Number of burglaries similar to pre-pandemic levels
Compared to the previous year, there was an increase in serious violent crimes, grievous bodily harm and rape, according to the Police Crime Statistics (PKS) of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
For the first time in ten years, police recorded an increase in burglaries and sneak-ins in 2022. With an increase of 14 percent, a similar value was recorded as before the pandemic. The police crime statistics (PKS) of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) mentions however, there has also been an increase in serious violent crimes and criminal offenses such as aggravated assault and rape.
More pickpockets and vehicle thefts
A total of 35,732 burglaries and sneak-ins were registered by the police in Switzerland last year, similar to the number before the pandemic, according to the FSO. This was the first increase in burglaries and sneak-ins since 2012, the Confederation wrote in a statement. However, a total of 174,702 thefts were committed, an increase of 17.4 percent.
All types of theft have increased. Pickpocketing is particularly on the rise (around 20 percent more cases), as is theft from vehicles (up 17 percent). As far as vehicle theft is concerned, a total of 46,385 vehicles were reported stolen in 2022 (against 16 percent more than the previous year). Among them were also 14,153 e-bikes, an increase of 58.7 percent compared to the previous year.
More cases of fraud on online platforms
The PKS also recorded an increase in digital crime. The majority of these are cyber white-collar crimes, including more phishing incidents, sextortion and online investment fraud. Majority of cases were registered on classified ad platforms. Either paid goods are not delivered or, for example, an online payment system is misused in someone else's identity for fraudulent purposes.
2022, 1942 serious violent crimes were also registered. This is a total of 16.6 percent more cases than in the previous year and thus, according to the PKS, more than ever since the statistics were introduced in 2009. The number of rapes increased by 14.5 percent to 867 and the number of aggravated assaults by 17.2 percent to 762 cases. The number of homicides (42) is in line with the average of recent years. More than half of these occur in the domestic sphere.
Source: Federal Statistical Office
