December Under Pressure. Crime Contained.

December is traditionally a high-risk month, but Atlas Security closed December 2025 with a clear reduction in crime despite increased festive movement and vacant homes.

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480 incidents were recorded in December, down from 560 in November. This reflects a 14.3% month-on-month decrease, a strong result for the holiday period.

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The most notable improvement was in theft, which dropped from 199 incidents in November to 143 in December. Vehicle-related incidents and theft attempts also declined, while serious violent crime remained low and largely contained.

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There was a moderate increase in burglary positive incidents, rising from 75 to 82, a trend typically associated with vacant properties during the holidays. Attempted burglary remained steady, indicating that while attempts continued, visibility and response limited wider escalation.

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High-risk areas remained consistent with known activity zones, including Gqeberha Central, North End, Newton Park and Bothasrus, with no new hotspots identified.

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The December takeaway

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December 2025 reinforced a familiar truth. Crime does not stop during the holidays, but it can be contained. While certain property-related risks increase due to vacant homes, the broader picture shows that consistent visibility and rapid response make a measurable difference.

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Compared to November, December closed with fewer incidents overall, fewer thefts, fewer vehicle-related incidents and stable levels of serious violent crime. In a month where crime pressure traditionally rises, keeping crime down is a result in itself.

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Atlas Security enters January with a clear operational picture, refined area focus and continued commitment to proactive crime prevention across the metro.

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January 2026 has started off strong for Atlas Security, our teams made 19 arrests within the first 5 days of the new year. Read about it here

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