Crime is on the rise, especially due to petty street crime. But Sardinian cities are among the safest in Italy .

This is what emerges from the statistics of the inter-force database of the Department of Public Security of the Ministry of the Interior , provided exclusively to Il Sole 24 Ore on Monday and compared with those of previous years.

The number of crimes reported in 2024 was 2.38 million, 1.7% more than in 2023, a 3.4% increase over 2019 and also above 2018 levels. The data consolidate the ongoing post-pandemic trend, with values that remain distant from those of ten years ago (-15% compared to 2014).

In 2024, over one million thefts were reported, accounting for 44% of all crime reports, a 3% increase year-over-year . Specifically, the highest increases in the year under review were reported burglaries (+4.9%), car thefts (+2.3%), snatching thefts (+1.7%), and finally, thefts involving dexterity (+0.6%). The highest increases in the past year were reported street crimes in general, including robberies (+1.8%), drug-related crimes (+3.9%), and sexual assaults (+7.5%). Intentional injuries increased by 5.8% and property damage by 1.6%. Reports of smuggling (-38%), fires (-5.3%) and computer fraud (-6.5%) buck the trend, reversing the trend dictated by the spread of digital technologies.

The Ministry of the Interior's data provides an updated snapshot of the number of minors and foreigners among the total number of those reported/arrested. Both categories are growing : 38,247 minors were reported, a 16% increase over 2023 and approximately 30% compared to pre-Covid levels. Specifically, one in four arrested for public robbery is under the age of 18. Foreigners were reported or arrested in 2024, an 8.1% increase over 2019. Overall, foreigners accounted for more than a third of those reported, but the incidence was almost double (over 60%) for certain predatory crimes such as snatching, theft, and public robberies.

THE RANKING

Milan, Florence, and Rome occupy the top three spots in the new edition of Il Sole 24 Ore's Crime Index , which measures crime reports recorded by law enforcement per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. The three metropolitan areas accounted for 23.5% of the crimes detected. They are followed by Bologna, Rimini, and Turin, where the daily flow of hundreds of city users and tourists through the area fuels the stock of reports. In short, seven of the 14 metropolitan cities (including Venice and Genoa) rank among the top ten areas with the highest number of reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

On the other hand, some medium-small provinces such as Oristano, Potenza, Benevento, Enna, Sondrio, Treviso, and Pordenone stand out with the lowest incidence of reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

THE ISLAND AND ORISTANO

Oristano is the safest city in Italy, ranking 106th with 1,572.7 reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to 6,952.3 in Milan, which occupies the unenviable first place). Cagliari is 88th (2,710 reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants), Nuoro is 70th (2,921), and Sassari is 65th (3,020).

Oristano still ranks second for bank robberies, but falls short for attempted murders (ninth) and for exploitation of prostitution and child pornography (sixth). Nuoro, however, is at the bottom of the list of 106 Italian provinces in terms of reports of intentional homicide and damage followed by arson. It ranks ninth for drug production .

"Being recognized once again as the safest province in Italy is an achievement that fills us with pride ," commented Oristano Mayor Massimiliano Sanna . He emphasized the local administration's commitment to " strengthening city video surveillance , inter-agency collaboration to monitor the area, and the dissemination of educational programs , as well as supporting communities and neighborhoods as social hubs of safety."

CAGLIARI

Focusing on the capital city and reported crimes, it ranks seventh for damage, followed by arson (317 reports). It also fares poorly in prostitution and child pornography (twentieth place). Cagliari, however, ranks midway in damage (42nd place), computer fraud and scams (60th), and drugs (62nd). It ranks last in the list for theft, robbery (both 80th place), extortion (91st), and malicious wounding (102nd).

Mayor Massimo Zedda rejoices: "Thanks to the role of law enforcement and the close collaboration with the Prefecture, the Police Headquarters, and the work of the local police, who even operate at night—a rare occurrence in Italy. The vigilance is high and constant." But "it will be necessary to address some critical issues," he emphasizes, "such as damage caused by fires; crimes related to the exploitation of prostitution and child pornography. These are on the rise, as are crimes committed by minors, the latter a true national emergency ." "Cagliari," concludes the mayor, "needs inclusive cultural interventions that involve schools and all social spheres. Respect for the rules and education on legality must be a collective process, involving listening and engaging with new generations and families ."

(Unioneonline)

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