The crime statistics published quarterly by the Ministry of the Interior, in the six towns of Maresme with more than 20,000 inhabitants, show a general increase in criminal crimes accumulated from the beginning of 2023 until September with 9,648 confirmed cases, with the exception of Pineda de Mar and Premià de Mar, although robberies with violence and intimidation have decreased in all towns. On the other hand, an alarming growth in crimes against sexual freedom is detected in all municipalities, which in the region amount to 86 cases.
The capital of Maresme, despite its efforts, has not been able to obtain positive crime numbers and in the first nine months of the year the accumulated crimes have increased by 1%. In Mataró, during this time, 55 crimes have been committed against sexual freedom – seven more than in 2022 – of which 17 have been sexual assaults with penetration, a crime that has decreased by 22.7% compared to the previous year.
On the other hand, in Mataró, where David Bote’s PSC governs, police pressure has reduced the crimes that generate the most insecurity, such as robberies and thefts. 233 robberies with force have been reported in homes, establishments and other facilities, which reduces the percentage by 1.3%, of which the 23.4% drop in robberies with force in homes stands out (147) and in terms of establishments and other facilities, 18% less with 233 incidents reported.
In Masnou, the crime rate increases by 1.6% partly due to thefts, which have increased by 16.9% with 138 cases reported, four cases of drug trafficking and 12 of injuries and riots. On the other hand, robberies with violence and intimidation have been reduced by 15.8%, with 16 cases. In the municipality chaired by Jaume Oliveras there have been four crimes against sexual freedom, which brings the overall rate down by 20%.
A notable increase in sexual crimes is also detected in Pineda de Mar with 16 reports of crimes against sexual freedom that raise the percentage to 77.8%. Of these, six have been assaults with penetration. The addition of three homicides since January 2023 also raises this statistic to 100%. In the town of Mayor Xavier Amor, robberies with violence and intimidation have been significantly reduced by 48.5%. The decrease in home robberies by 54.1% is striking, while thefts increased by 2.5% with 284 cases reported.
The coastal town chaired by Rafa Navarro, Premià de Mar, has reduced the rate of criminal offenses by 11% since the beginning of the year. Although the count of crimes against sexual freedom has been halved with four cases, three crimes of sexual assault with penetration have been reported. Regarding robberies with violence and intimidation, they have decreased by 17.5%, totaling 47 cases despite a 12% increase in robberies in establishments and other facilities.
In Vilassar de Mar, the town where Laura Martínez Portell is new mayor, the crime rate has dropped by 4.3%. However, she has suffered seven sexual assaults, one of them involving penetration. Robberies with violence and intimidation have also increased the statistics with 21 cases, 23.5% more, although the crime of robbery in establishments has decreased by 19% and by 19% in homes. Regarding thefts, there has been a decrease of 5.9% with 95 confirmed cases.