In a recent analysis of police data conducted by the research department of the Madlan website, it has been discovered that certain neighbourhoods in Israel are grappling with a surge in criminal activities. The study sheds light on the prevalence of drug crimes, sexual offences, property crimes, and security violations, revealing some disturbing trends in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
According to the deciphered police data, the Naveh Sha’anan neighbourhood in Tel Aviv has emerged as the area with the highest number of violations in terms of drug crimes. This is a concerning pattern, considering that despite a decrease in house burglaries, the neighborhood has witnessed a rise in property offenses, securing its position as the leading hotspot for both drug and property crimes in Israel.
In terms of specific figures, the Naveh Sha’anan neighborhood recorded a staggering 141 drug offenses in the first quarter of this year. Following closely behind is the downtown Jerusalem neighborhood, which experienced a sudden surge and claimed the second position with 48 drug-related cases. The Rambam neighborhood in Rishon Lezion secured the third spot with 34 drug offenses during the same period.
Shifting the focus to sexual offenses, Beersheba has emerged as the city with the highest incidence of such crimes. Within Beersheba, the Hei neighborhood experienced a notable escalation, witnessing a jump from one case in the first quarter of 2022 to ten cases in the first quarter of this year. The Shikon Darom neighborhood follows closely with nine cases, while the Dalet neighborhood recorded five cases of sexual offenses during the same period.
The report also highlights other areas of concern, such as assault and car thefts. The Dalet neighborhood in Beersheba recorded the highest number of assault incidents in the first quarter of this year, with 84 cases reported. This figure represents a decrease compared to the previous year, but it still raises concerns about the overall safety and security in the neighborhood. Additionally, the downtown neighborhood in Petah Tikva registered the highest number of car thefts, with 62 cases reported, representing a significant increase compared to the previous year.
The findings further underscore the prevalence of property crimes in several neighborhoods across the country. The Naveh Sha’anan neighborhood in Tel Aviv tops the list in this category, with a staggering 380 cases reported. South Rothschild in Tel Aviv follows closely with 224 cases, while the Hadar Carmel neighborhood in Haifa recorded 213 property crimes during the first quarter.
The analysis also reveals that Arab neighborhoods are leading in terms of security violations. The Muslim Quarter in Jerusalem ranked first in this category, reporting 73 security violations. Beit Hanina in Jerusalem secured the second position with 66 violations, followed by the Mount of Olives neighborhood with 58 security violations.
Commenting on the concerning trends, Tal Kopel, CEO of Madlan, expressed his worry about the contagious nature of neglect, particularly in times of economic instability. Kopel stated, “The worrying trend that emerges from the data is that neglect is contagious, especially when the economic situation is unstable. If you take Tel Aviv as an example, you can see that the neglected Naveh Sha’anan neighborhood continues to star on the list and be a center of crime, and although the number of house burglaries in it has decreased, the number of property and drug offenses has actually increased, and it is still in first place in Israel in both categories.”