The number of crimes committed in Moldova in the first half of this year rose by over 7% compared with the corresponding period last year, but the number of traffic accidents and extremely serious offenses decreased. General Police Inspectorate chief Ion Bodrug, who presented the institution’s progress report for the first six months, said that 95% of the committed offenses were discovered, IPN reports.

The highest number of crimes was recorded in Chisinau, Balti, Ceadar-Lunga and Comrat, while the lowest one in Glodeni, Rascani, and Nisporeni.

Most of the offenses committed in January-June – over 9,000 - are against property. The number of economic offenses and crimes against the family and minors and of acts of hooliganism increased. According to Ion Bodrug, the criminal groups the previous years focused on blackmail, but this year they switched to economic offenses.

The number of such cases as smuggling, illegal selling and keeping of narcotic and psychotropic substances decreased by over 30% on a year before. In 2013, there were seized narcotics to the value of over 22 million lei. But there were committed more crimes involving firearms. “Awareness-raising campaigns will be soon launched to inform the people about the rules and conditions of bearing and keeping guns,” said Ion Bodrug.

A larger number of people reported offenses. According to Ion Bodrug, this is because the population’s confidence in the police increased.

About 17,500 offenses were recorded in the first half of this year, by over 1,000 more than in the same period last year.