Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith yesterday released last year's crime figures and reported they were the second lowest in the last six years.

Despite an increase in heroin use last year, and the downturn in the economy as a result of September 11, Bermuda managed to maintain its relatively low crime rate, with a total of 2,743 crimes reported last year.

The year before there was 2,533 - the lowest since 1996.

Vehicle removals and breaking offences have risen, accounting mostly for the 8.3 percent increase in crime from 2000. The large increase in the use of heroin is believed to be the cause of the rise in thefts generally, as drug abusers turn to crime to finance their habits.

“Our selected crime report for 2001 indicates an 8.3 percent increase over 2000,” said the commissioner. “However, 2001 ranks fifth out of the last six years in crime as 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 all experienced higher crime reports. “The increase this year is largely attributed to increases in three areas; housebreaking, stealing from unattended vehicles, and removal of cars, motorcycles and auxiliary cycles.

“As we indicated at the end of the first quarter last year, Bermuda experienced an increase in heroin seizures and our intelligence reports indicated an increase in heroin availability.

“Heroin addiction typically results in an increase in acquisitive crimes - users and addicts having to steal to support their addiction.

“We believe that the increases in housebreaking, stealing from unattended vehicles and removals are associated with the increase in heroin use last year.”

A total of 235 vehicles were targeted during 2001 by thieves - the majority were cars and more than 100 of them happened in Pembroke.

He added: “We have been advising car owners for several months now not to leave items of value within their cars. Cars in the city of Hamilton and surrounding area have been particularly vulnerable.”

But also being targeted by thieves are cellphones, and bulkier items, such as DVD players and video cameras, stolen from homes, and cash and jewellery. He added: “Associated with this trend is the removal of private cars from the residences that have been broken into, so we urge the public to make their vehicles harder targets - don't leave the keys with vehicles and secure your keys in a safe place.”

Although violent crime was at its lowest in six years last year, the number of assaults occasioning grievous bodily harm was up from 39 incidents in 2000, to 60 in 2001.

There was also 67 incidents of wounding with intent last year - the third highest figure in that category for the last six years.

Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams said he could not give specifics on why that type of violent crime had increased, but it had been the case throughout the year, not only in the last quarter. He said he believed some of it could be to do with drugs, but said there was also the possibility that September 11, and the downturn in the economy, could also have had an effect.

Youth crime also played a role, he said.

He said: “The assaults, as they occur, cannot always be attributed specifically to drug seizures. I would call the process oblique. The attacks may occur in the guise of personal offences between individuals. The fact that those people are abusing drugs may accelerate or compound those problems.

“And the fact that drugs are involved is not always readily identifiable to the Police, but quite often they are. Some of these incidences certainly could be related to drugs. The recession seems to be one of the things that seems to be playing a role in people's behaviour in general.

“There is a danger of frustration in people. We have certainly had concerns about the aftereffects of September 11. If you are going to have something that impacts on tourism then you can reasonably anticipate a knock on effect in the community. We had to be prepared for an increase in acquisition crime. People are not stealing groceries. They are stealing bikes and are actually re-selling them to finance drug habits.

“But we have also seen a domestic aspect to this violence crime, where violence has broken out in the home. But whether that is related to September 11 it is difficult to say. All of these incidents may have occurred without September 11.

“There have been things that have happened that have made us think that maybe September 11 was having an effect on crime and violent crime. But it's difficult to equate - who knows why people do things?”