During the first months of the year, the corona pandemic had a markedly reduced effect on the number of reported crimes in the country, compared with the previous year.

But in June, the downward trend was broken, an increase that has continued even in July. In total, six percent more crimes were reported during the month.

Damage is behind it

According to Brås statistics, reports of abuse between strangers, robberies and other thefts are falling.

At the same time, the number of reports of crimes against persons, ie assault, murder and sexual crimes, increased by five percent compared with the same month last year.

Most of the increase in reported crimes in the country consists of vandalism, mainly graffiti, in Stockholm. The number is so large that it affects the total increased figure for the whole country, according to Brå.

Disabled exposed

However, the number of robberies against the disabled has increased sharply during the first half of the year. Last year, 31 robberies were reported - in the year 173, something Swedish Radio was the first to report.

The increase took place mainly in March and April, at the same time as the corona pandemic made its entry into Sweden in earnest.

- People with disabilities may not always have that ability to say no, then you are more of a victim of the criminal gangs who try to take advantage of it, says Krister Ekberg who sits on the board of FUB, an interest organization for people with intellectual disabilities, to SR .