Overall crime rates remain on decline, six Estonian counties see increase
While overall crime rates in Estonia have continued to fall, six Estonian counties saw an increase in the number of crimes during the first five months of 2016.
Compared to the first five months of 2015, Ida-Viru County saw the total number of criminal episodes increase by 134 cases, Valga by 54, Järva by 23, Rapla by 13, Hiiu by seven and Jõgeva County by 3, reported Saare County daily Meie Maa (link in Estonian).
According to the report, criminal episodes occurring in Lääne County during the first five months of 2016 equaled those during the same period in 2015, and crime rates dropped in all other Estonian counties.
Compared to the same period last year, Harju County reported 627 fewer crimes, Tartu 271, Lääne-Viru 84, Pärnu 80, Põlva 45, Vijandi 43, and Saare County 17 fewer crimes.
Estonian law enforcement authorities reported a total of 12,375 criminal episodes from January through May of 2016, a decrease of 877 from the same period last year.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik