Theft cases from Sliema houses this year have almost equalled the number of break-ins for the whole of 2013, police figures show.

The numbers suggest that burglars have set their eyes on the seaside locality after thefts from houses there fell by half last year.

Police figures obtained by Times of Malta show there were 29 cases of reported burglaries from occupied households in Sliema between January and June, contrasting with 33 cases last year.

The phenomenon of burglaries in Sliema seems to buck what appears to be a general downward trend in crime. Household thefts also appear to be on a downward spiral in neighbouring St Julian’s and Swieqi, according to half-yearly figures.

But although the statistics seem to suggest a spike of break-ins in Sliema this year, criminologist Saviour Formosa cautioned against over-interpretation.

“Although at face value it does seem that theft from occupied dwellings in Sliema is set to increase this year, we only have figures for the first six months and it is not unheard of to have periods during which criminal activity experiences a lull,” he said.

He said the recent spate of reports in Sliema could also lead to residents being more sensitive to potential criminal activity.

Criminals would take note too and this could lead to a drop in crime, he added.

Dr Formosa said criminal activity was linked to societal and economic changes: “It may take just one public event that draws the crowds to cause a spike in thefts.”

His observation is reflected in police figures for St Julian’s, which has a far higher theft rate than Sliema and Swieqi. St Julian’s also includes Paceville, an entertainment hotspot that draws thousands of young people to the area every weekend.

Between 2012 and June this year, more than 5,500 theft cases of all sorts were recorded in St Julian’s, which far outstrips the 1,900 cases reported in Sliema during the same period.

The figures show that in the first six months of this year there were 945 reported thefts in St Julian’s and 302 in Sliema.

Pickpocketing was the most frequent crime in St Julian’s, with 343 cases being reported in the first six months of this year while 128 were reported in Sliema.

It was also the most reported crime in 2013; there were 844 cases in St Julian’s and 277 in Sliema. There were five reported cases in Swieqi last year but none in 2012.

The Sunday Times of Malta reported last week that Sliema residents were concerned they were being targeted by thieves following a spate of reported thefts from homes.

When asked if the police are upping surveillance in the area, a spokesman said: “Proactive action is indeed being taken with more patrols, particularly on weekends by the Rapid Intervention Unit, the Criminal Investigation Department and district police.”

The police spokesman said Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia and Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit were holding public consultation meetings with the councils of the localities hit by the recent robberies. So far, such meetings were held in St Julian’s, Swieqi and Pembroke.

It may take just one public event that draws the crowds to cause a spike in theft

He pointed out that pick-pocketing, muggings and snatch-and-runs could easily be prevented by “proper attention” and the “same applies to better security measures at home”.

Sliema had more cases of thefts from cars – 223 between 2012 and June 2014 – than St Julian’s, which had 193 in the same period.

However, a total of 67 vehicles were stolen from St Julian’s, compared with 34 from Sliema.

Thefts from customers in bars and restaurants also ranked high in St Julian’s, exacerbated by the influx of tourists and people who go to Paceville. This year, there were 307 reports in St Julian’s and 61 in Sliema, with the number hitting 765 in 2012 for the busy nightlife town and 35 for the popular shopping centre.

The rate of snatch-and-run thefts was also higher in St Julian’s, with a total of 103 between 2012 and June 2014 compared with 32 in Sliema.

Breakdown of thefts in Sliema

Breakdown of thefts in St Julian’s