The PN on Tuesday raised alarm over increased robberies in private homes around Malta and Gozo.

PN MPs Darren Carabott, Albert Buttigieg, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, and Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat spoke in a press conference in Swieqi, one of the localities they said was hit by the increased rate of theft.

Carabott said that a number of localities around the island are feeling the effects of a lack of safety and security.

He said that security in roads and private homes is a priority for the PN, and appealed to government to explain how it will address security for the people, in light of numerous recent reports.

Carabott said that government must be transparent in what action it will take to address safety and security.

Among the PN's proposals addressing the issue are for open police stations where one can report, increased police rounds and more police presence in the locality.

Carabott thanked police officials for the work they're doing in this regard, but said that the politician is also responsible, and government must do better to assure people of their safety within and around their homes.

Muscat ensured Swieqi residents that the Council is working with the police to address the problem.

He suggested that the State can invest in security cameras to be installed in strategic points in each locality, to better surveil the locality against robberies.

Muscat said that robbers have changed their style, methods, and times in which they break into homes, and this problem must be addressed.

Buttigieg said it is a human right to be able to enjoy one's property in private, and enjoy one's family serenely.

He said that the elderly people in particular are feeling scared and anxious to leave their homes, as many have been robbed while they were out on an errand. Buttigieg said that the lack of safety impacts those who have been robbed psychologically.

Mifsud Bonnici also said that the elderly must be assured of their safety, and that they deserve to feel safe and comfortable in their own homes, without fear of being robbed or even attacked.

She continued that unfortunately, government has not provided residents with peace of mind, and many incidents have left the elderly scared to leave their homes.

"Government is failing to provide guarantees of additional security in localities, and killed the concept of night shelters for the elderly," Mifsud Bonnici said.

She said that while government encourages the elderly to continue living in their own homes, the elderly are being distanced from doing so.

Mifsud Bonnici said that there are over 20,000 elderly persons who live in their homes alone, and government has the obligation to assure them and give them peace of mind.

Government statement

In reaction, the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, and Employment said that while every case must be taken seriously, the Ministry urges against unnecessary alarmism that is not based on facts.

"While the Opposition speakers presented the situation as extraordinary and abnormal, the facts show otherwise. The Ministry highlights that the recently published crime report for Malta continues to indicate a decline in crime rates. Specifically, in terms of theft, the report states that the rate of residential theft has remained low. In 2024, the number of reported residential thefts was 513-the second-lowest rate on record, with the lowest being in 2023, which had 34 fewer cases. This is a significant decrease compared to the 1,004 residential theft reports in 2012."

"Additionally, last year Malta recorded the lowest rate of armed robberies since such data has been collected. In 2024, the country also registered the lowest number of vehicle thefts and the second-lowest rate of thefts from both occupied and unoccupied properties. In Gozo, theft cases in 2023 were the lowest recorded in the past 20 years-half the number registered in 2006. Regarding thefts in Swieqi, while every case is taken seriously, the data shows a decrease in incidents rather than an increase. The first months of this year do not indicate a different trend. In 2012, there were 60 residential thefts in Swieqi, compared to 25 last year-less than half the 2012 figure. In the first three months of this year, only four cases have been reported."

"Once again, this does not diminish the seriousness of any case, but it does not justify the Opposition's attempt to instil fear where it is unnecessary. At the same time, efforts to prevent crime must continue, and cooperation with the police remains crucial. The Ministry also reminds the public of the support services available for victims of crime through the Victim Support Agency."

PL Statement

The PL said that the Nationalist Party's spokesperson for Home Affairs, Darren Carabott, "has launched a new campaign aimed at spreading fear about theft. Instead of holding a press conference to apologise for the false claim of 18,000 fake identity cards, he has shifted focus to a new campaign that inflates theft case numbers."

"While every case must be taken seriously as it affects victims, the Ministry for Home Affairs has already clarified in a statement that the figures paint a different reality from the one Carabott is trying to portray. The Nationalist Party has reduced itself to having a spokesperson who relies on social media posts and soundbites for a matter of utmost seriousness - a sensationalist who has already been caught lying multiple times."