Penang police chief Azizee Ismail said 2,400 cases were reported compared with 3,847 during the same period last year, Bernama reported.

This is equivalent to a drop of 28.7% or 1,447 cases.

The number of violent crime cases also dropped from 732 to 591, which is a reduction of 18.3%.

As for property crime, Azizee said the number of such cases reduced from 2,500 to 1,809 to record a 27.6% drop during the period.

He attributed this success to all police personnel, especially those on the ground for ensuring peace and safety.

Azizee said police received 13,777 reports related to commercial cases in the first six months of this year — an increase of 3,434 cases compared with the same period last year, and with a total loss of RM174.6 million.

“So, let’s all publicise the availability of the National Scam Response Centre to the public so that they know how immediate assistance can be accessed by contacting the hotline at 997 if they become or have the potential to become victims of online fraud,” he said after the Penang police contingent’s monthly assembly in George Town today.