THE number of rapes rose by almost a third in the first nine months of the year and murders were up by a quarter, according to the national crime index.

Overall, violent crime was up by almost a fifth and the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) said the index as a whole rose by 12.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

A total of 170,481 crimes were reported since the beginning of the year.

And the data showed that overall, violent crime saw an 18 per cent increase.

Rape cases totalled 1,833 compared to 1,384 over the same period last year while murder cases increased from 375 last year to 473 cases this year.

Property crime also went up, showing a 13.9 per cent increase.

In this category, motorcycle theft was tops, with a 26 per cent increase, while car thefts rose by 14 per cent.

The number of house break-ins showed a 19 per cent increase.

MCPF president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said: 'The public must take extra care in ensuring that they do not make it easier for would-be-thieves to strike.'

But at least Malaysians have less to fear from armed robberies, which decreased from 246 cases last year to 190 cases this year, although robberies without the use of firearms increased by 42 per cent from 9,548 cases to 13,537 cases.

Datuk Dr Ongkili, who released the figures on Sunday, urged the people to help create an 'anti-crime culture'.

'All must play a role to help prevent and say 'No' to crime,' he added.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK