There were 3,151 crime cases registered in the first quarter overall, an increase of 12.3 percent year-on-year, Secretary for Security Cheong Kuoc Va said. However, crimes such as extortion and usury, usually connected to gambling-related loan sharking, decreased in the first quarter this year. Data released Friday shows there were 12 reports of extortion, down by one from the same period last year. In addition, there were 33 cases of illegal money lending at extreme interest rates, three fewer than last year. The increase in the number of visitor arrivals was identified as the “most likely” cause for the crime rate, Mr Cheong said.
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