December Under Pressure. Crime Contained.
Crime
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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.
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.
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.
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.
High-risk areas remained consistent with known activity zones, including Gqeberha Central, North End, Newton Park and Bothasrus, with no new hotspots identified.
The December takeaway
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.
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.
Atlas Security enters January with a clear operational picture, refined area focus and continued commitment to proactive crime prevention across the metro.
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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Arrest: Penford, Uitenhage
December 17, 2025
In the early hours of the morning, Atlas Security’s Control Room received a phone in alert from a client in Penford, Uitenhage, reporting a suspected theft from his vehicle. The client confirmed that his credit card holder was missing and advised that it had been left inside the vehicle. Our Armed Response Officers was immediately dispatched, with the client verifying his details while checking if any additional items had been taken.
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Swift Response Leads to Arrests after Repeated Cable Theft in Uitenhage
January 15, 2026
The past 24 hours delivered a powerful message. Persistent infrastructure theft will not be tolerated. Atlas Security successfully assisted in the arrest of two suspects following repeated incidents of cable theft and damage to critical infrastructure near the railway line in the Uitenhage area.
Swift Response Leads to Copper Theft Arrest in Newton Park
March 26, 2025
Atlas Security RIU officers arrested a suspect caught stealing copper pipes from a drain in Newton Park. The stolen materials were recovered, and SAPS took the suspect into custody.