The number of reported crimes in Japan, mostly thefts and scams, rose for a third consecutive year in 2024.
Police recorded 737,679 reported offenses under the Penal Code last year, up 34,328 cases ¡ª or 4.9% ¡ª from 2023, according to a government white paper released on Friday. The total reached 98.5% of the level seen in 2019, before COVID-related restrictions sharply curtailed social activity, contributing to a dip in crime levels.
Theft remained the most common offense last year, accounting for 501,507 cases, up 3.7% from a year earlier. Fraud rose 24.6% to 57,324 cases, driven in part by special fraud schemes ¡ª sophisticated scams often using the phone or internet in which perpetrators impersonate family, acquaintances or officials to induce victims to surrender their money to them. These types of schemes increased by 10.5% to 21,043 cases in 2024.
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