Significant Decrease in Ram Raids in April
Ram raids have seen a significant decrease of over 80 percent in the month of April when compared to the same time last year.
According to police reports, there have been 12 ram raids identified in April 2024, a stark contrast to the 64 incidents reported in April 2023.
Data collected from April 2017 to April 2024 indicates a consistent downward trend in ram raids since the peak in August 2022, when there were 86 incidents recorded.
In 2022, a total of 433 ram raids were reported, followed by 288 in 2023, and 67 in the first four months of this year.
Legislation aimed at addressing ram raid offenses passed its initial reading in August, introducing the Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill. This bill includes ‘smash-and-grabs’ as a punishable offense under the Crimes Act, granting authorities the ability to prosecute individuals as young as 12 years old with up to 10 years in prison. This applies to both drivers and passengers involved in the crime, as well as those who film the incident.
Statistics reveal that approximately 70 percent of identified ram raiders fall within the 14 to 17 age group, with an additional 12 percent falling between the ages of 10 and 13.