Crime data in 2019 indicate a decline of about 19,000 cases compared to the previous year • An increase in homicides, a small decrease in sex offenses • The city with the most criminal cases: Tel Aviv, with almost 30,000 cases

• Police Car // Illustration photo: Joshua Joseph

The crime rate in 2019 has been the lowest in more than a quarter of a century. This is according to the 2019 crime data of the Israel Police who arrived in Israel today.

According to police data, in 2019 301,238 criminal cases were opened, compared to 320,670 in 2018.

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The cell phone is still considered one of the most stolen items, but the difficulty of hacking it and the ability to locate a stolen phone have made them the least wanted by the thieves. In 2019, 8,938 cases of phone theft were opened compared to 10,641 cases in 2018.

11,407 criminal cases were opened in security offenses, of which the most prominent figure was a decrease in cases opened for stone throwing. In 2019, 3,235 files were opened, compared with 4,369 in 2018. At the same time, there was a slight increase in economic crimes: 963 cases in 2019 compared with 957 the previous year.

In moral transgressions that include the prostitution and drug offenses, a significant reduction was recorded in 2019. 30,051 cases opened in 2019 compared to 38,043 in the past year. Crime has also decreased in property offenses: 122,946 cases were opened in 2019, compared with 129,931 in 2018. An increase has been recorded in the arson attacks. In 2019, 3,077 files were opened, up from 2,717 in the year before.

Murder every two and a half days

Sexual offenses have been tremendously decreased. In 2019, 6,129 cases were opened, compared with 6,144 in 2018. While the rape offense was down, 1,446 cases were down in 2019 compared to 1,517 in 2018, more sexual offenses actually increased: 1,431 cases were opened in 2019 compared to 1,302 in 2018.

In the meanwhile, the number of violent crimes was down in 2019. 58,026 cases were opened in 2019 compared to 59,201 the previous year. After years of rising assault and failing police officers in 2019, there was - for the first time - a decline. 11,006 files in 2019 compared to 11,298 the previous year. A police official explains the change in police officers' posing with body cameras. He said that next year another decline is expected.

There was an increase in the murder offenses. In 2019, 136 homicides were recorded compared to 116 in 2018.

And which cities have the most criminal cases opened in 2019? According to police data, Tel Aviv-Jaffa holds the first place with 29,599 files. Jerusalem is in second place with 27,009 files and in third place is Beer Sheva with 12,809 files.