Less theft - more fraud

In 2018, the number of registered thefts (including unspecified theft, burglary, sneak-in, pickpocketing; but not shoplifting and vehicle theft) amounted to 112,353. Compared to the previous year, the number decreased by 9,674 prosecutions. Compared to the record year 2012, a decrease of 106'713 crimes (-49%) was registered.

Fraud increased by 23%

Robbery (1,644 offenses) and property damage without theft (42,243 offenses) were down from 2017, falling to a ten-year low. Vehicle theft also reached its lowest level since 2009, with 41,796 crimes recorded (-23%). Compared to 2017, fewer bicycles but more e-bikes were reported to police as stolen.

In contrast, an increase was observed for some criminal offenses such as fraud (+3,060 offenses; +23%). In 2018, fraud was registered by the police 16,319 times, the highest figure since the revision of the statistics in 2009 (7,821 offenses). Other, less frequently registered offenses (less than 1,000 offenses per year) reached their highest level in ten years; these include extortion, obtaining a benefit by fraud, unauthorized intrusion into data processing systems or carousing.

Average values for completed homicides

In 2018, 1,425 serious violent crimes were registered throughout Switzerland. This corresponds to a decrease of 29 offenses, which is mainly due to attempted homicides. In absolute terms, the total number of recorded serious violent crimes remains relatively stable over time. In 2018, 50 completed homicides were registered, which is in line with the average of recent years. More than half of the completed homicides took place in the domestic sphere.

Among the less serious violent crimes, there was an increase in assault (+745) and simple bodily injury (+187). Nevertheless, the total number of all violent crimes per 1000 inhabitants remained relatively stable (2018: 5.2‰; 2017: 5.0‰).

StGB offenses: fewer minors, more adults

In 2018, 8,553 underage defendants were registered. This figure is slightly lower than in 2017(-0.5%) and is in line with the average of recent years. In 2009, there were 14,899. The number of accused young adults (13,859) increased by 1.5% compared to the previous year, but was down compared to 2009 (16,595). Among adults, the number of defendants increased to 57,796 (+3.6%), reaching the highest level since 2009 (48,666 defendants).

With regard to residence status, it can be seen that the number of accused persons from the permanent resident population increased both among Swiss nationals and among foreign nationals. In contrast, the situation is stable for accused persons from the asylum population and accused foreigners from the non-permanent resident population.

More reprimands for verbal abuse

In 2018, the police registered 10,633 referrals for insult, 1620 for defamation and 1,389 for slander. These are petition offenses. The number of registered offenses depends on the reporting behavior of the aggrieved persons. Since 2009, the number of referrals for defamation has increased continuously (+84%).

Fewer referrals for narcotics use

In 2018, the number of offenses related to narcotics trafficking decreased (-293 offenses; -3.5%). This also applies to the number of minors (-492 defendants; -9.6%) and adults (-812 defendants; -3.4%) charged with narcotics consumption. This decrease is mainly due to the use of cannabis products. It should be taken into account that cannabis consumption is punishable by an administrative fine only in the case of adults, and administrative fines are not reported in the police crime statistics (PKS). In the case of smuggling, an increase of 25.8% (+603 offenses) was registered.

Source: Federal Statistical Office

Police crime statistics (PKS), Annual Report 2018 of Crimes Recorded by the Police, FSO Number: 1116-1800.