Despite the total number of criminal incidents remaining stable in the country, there were notable shifts in specific crimes, according to the Federal Police figures.
The police reported a total of 902,059 criminal incidents in 2023, marking a slight increase of 0.2% from the previous year. The majority of these crimes related to theft and extortion.
Compared to 2022, residential burglaries dropped by 7.7%, marking the lowest rate ever, excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, bicycle thefts also saw a slight decrease of 3.6%, whereas vehicle thefts remained largely unchanged.
Also noteworthy is that the number of internet fraud cases declined for the first time, by 4.5%, reversing a trend of tripling from 2017 to 2022. Additionally, there was a 14.4% decrease in forgery cases in 2023.
On the other hand, pickpocketing rose in 2023 by 13.1%, with the most significant increase being in the Brussels-Capital Region at 19.6%. Snatch thefts and shoplifting also increased, by 15.7% and 3.2% respectively.
According to Outgoing Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt, measures have already been implemented to address these concerns, such as on-the-spot fines for shoplifting, swift justice for arrestees, execution of short-term prison sentences and increasing police visibility on the streets.
A further rise was seen in incidents of stalking, with a 6.8% increase.
The number of people found with an irregular living situation also rose by 11.9%. However, the federal police emphasise this is primarily due to larger, more frequent searches and controls, such as those carried out around Brussels-Midi train station in late August last year.
The authorities caution that figures do not always paint the full picture. Fluctuation of incidents can be due to levels of reporting, changes in targeted actions, advances in investigative techniques, or shifts in legislation. Moreover, their report excludes traffic offences, which are reported separately.
