Physical crime in Singapore has been remarkably flat for years — hovering around 20,000 reported cases annually. In 2025, cases edged up +4.4%, led by a rise in outrage of modesty. Scams and cybercrime, now the larger story, are on a separate page.
Source: SPF Annual Crime Brief 2025, and SingStat Public Safety data. Last refreshed 13 April 2026.
Unlike scams, which have grown dramatically, physical crime in Singapore has stayed near 20,000 cases per year across the entire post-2020 reporting window. The modest +4.4% rise in 2025 is within normal year-to-year variance.
Since 2022, SPF has reported physical crime in six categories. Theft and related crimes dominate the total — around 40% of all physical crime in any given year. Violent and serious property crimes remain vanishingly rare by any international comparison.
Singapore's physical crime rate hovers around 340 cases per 100,000 residents — a figure that places the country near the bottom of any international comparison. The rate has trended gently downward since the mid-2010s.
Each year the Annual Crime Brief highlights a short list of offences warranting public attention — either because they rose, because they remain stubborn, or because of their impact on victims. In 2025 the focus is on these four.
Singapore's most persistent sexual offence. More than half of cases in 2025 involved offenders known to the victim.
About 7% of all physical crime. Most cases happen in unsecured or unattended premises. Dormitory theft between roommates is the fastest-growing sub-category.
The largest single category of physical crime, and a top youth offence. More than half of cases in 2025 involved goods worth under S$50.
Fell for the second year running on the back of public education and improved toilet security. Most residential cases involve offenders known to the victim.
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