The Uruguayan Interior Minister, Luis Alberto Heber, has acknowledged that there has been an increase in robbery in the last quarter, according to data released by the ministry on Thursday. “There is a rebound in robbery, very little, but there is a rebound,” the minister told Telemundo (Channel 12).
According to official government figures, in the first quarter of the year thefts increased by 2.6% compared to the first quarter of 2022. Between January and March 2023, there were 6,636 robberies; in the first three months of last year had been 6,470.
Although the numbers are worrying, the interior minister said it is “premature” to make an assessment. “The numbers in general terms speak for themselves, we have not held a press conference as a result of which we are going to do it when we can better evaluate it, which is every six months,” said the minister.
Homicides dropped, says the Ministry of the Interior
In contrast to the increase in robbery, homicides decreased by 8% in the same period of time. So far this year there were 93 homicides, eight fewer than in 2022. “In some months we have better numbers with the homicide issue and others not so much,” Heber said.
Theft, for its part, has decreased by 5.8%, from 31,536 to 29,716 cases. Despite the fact that there is a decrease in theft, the crime of domestic violence has increased by 4.3%. To combat the rise in domestic violence cases, the ministry has convened a multi-party table, Heber said.
Although it is still early to determine if this increase in robbery is a pattern that will continue in the coming months, it is important to take these figures into account and take preventive measures to reduce the number of crimes in the country.
