Lanzarote experienced a 2.1% increase in crime from January to September 2019, with 5,383 crimes recorded on the island compared to 5,272 in the same period of the previous year. According to the Criminality Balance of the Ministry of Interior, in addition to recording two homicides or completed murders this year, attempted homicides doubled and crimes against sexual freedom and indemnity grew.
From January to September of last year, there were no intentional homicides or completed murders on the island, while this 2019 began with the death of Romina Celeste, allegedly murdered by her husband and missing since January 1. To her we must add the homicide of the man who ran the Las Vegas restaurant in Puerto del Carmen, who died on August 1 after allegedly being stabbed by the establishment's cook. As for intentional homicides and murders in the degree of attempt, there were four recorded from January to September 2019, twice as many as the previous year.
Regarding sexual offenses, with 52 criminal offenses recorded this year, there is an increase of 20.9%. And, although the number of sexual assaults with penetration remains the same as the previous year, with eight cases recorded, the rest of the crimes against sexual freedom and indemnity have increased, from 35 criminal offenses to 44.
Serious and less serious crimes of injury and affray have also experienced an increase, in this case of 37.5%, from 72 to 99 offenses. Likewise, vehicle thefts have increased by 46.9%, with a total of 47 recorded from January to September 2019 compared to 32 in the same period last year.
Fewer robberies and drug trafficking
On the other hand, compared to the first three quarters of 2018, robberies with violence and intimidation, robberies with force in homes, establishments and other facilities, as well as thefts have decreased.
Of these three types of crimes, the largest decrease has been recorded in robberies with force in homes, establishments and other facilities, which, with 356 offenses recorded during the first three quarters of 2019, have fallen by 18.7%. Of these, 207 were robberies with force in homes,
Regarding robberies with violence, they have decreased by 7.8% from 90 to 83 criminal offenses, while thefts have decreased by 8.3% with 1,300 cases recorded from January to September 2019, 118 less than the previous year.
Also, drug trafficking crimes have decreased on the island, specifically by 18.8%, from 48 to 30. However, there is an increase of 8.7% in the rest of the criminal offenses, having gone from 3,129 to 3,401.
36.6% of crimes are recorded in Arrecife
According to the Criminality Balance of the Ministry of Interior, 36.6% of the crimes recorded in Lanzarote during the first three quarters of 2019 took place in Arrecife. And, in the capital, 1,975 criminal offenses were recorded, which also represents an increase of 7.1% compared to last year.
In Arrecife, the four attempted homicides recorded from January to September of this year took place and serious and less serious crimes of injury and affray grew by 60.9% with 37 criminal offenses.
Regarding sexual offenses, there were 23 recorded in Arrecife, which represents an increase of 35.3%. And, although sexual assaults with penetration fell by 66.7% in the capital with two cases recorded compared to six that occurred last year, the rest of the crimes against sexual freedom and indemnity have grown by 90.9% from 11 to 21.
In addition, while robberies with violence and intimidation have decreased on the island, in Arrecife they have grown by 26% with 63 crimes recorded, 13 more than last year. With 126 offenses, robberies with force in homes, establishments and other facilities have also increased in Arrecife, specifically by 3%.
As for thefts, there were 394 recorded in Arrecife from January to September of this year, 13.2% more. Also, there were 39 vehicle thefts, which represents an increase of 77.3% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Thus, in addition to sexual assaults with penetration, the only crimes that have decreased in Arrecife are drug trafficking crimes which, with 18 criminal offenses, six less than in 2018, have decreased by 25%. As for the rest of the criminal offenses, with 1,261 recorded in Arrecife, an increase of 7.1% is reflected.
