Crime Update: May 7–15

Total criminal incidents across Trinidad and Tobago fell by 29 percent this week, with 57 cases recorded. However, this general downward trend masks a sharp rise in theft offences and a notable spike in attempted murders.

This report details these divergent trends and identifies the specific communities where activity clustered.

What went up

Theft incidents climbed 60% week-over-week, totaling 16 cases. This represents the largest volume increase among property crimes during this period, with incidents spreading across multiple districts. This trend suggests a broader shift toward opportunistic property targeting that business owners and residents should monitor.

Attempted murders rose by 175% to 11 incidents. This seven-incident increase represents a significant escalation in the severity of violent encounters, even as overall crime volumes declined. While the absolute number remains lower than assault or robbery counts, the sharp upward trajectory indicates that recent violent interactions have carried a higher risk of lethal outcomes.

See the full crime type breakdown

Hotspot focus

Port of Spain remains the highest-incident area with 12 cases, despite experiencing a modest three-incident decline. Arouca emerged as a secondary area of concern, recording 5 incidents following a three-case increase—the largest week-over-week rise among tracked regions. San Juan also registered a slight upward movement with 4 incidents, meaning these three areas collectively accounted for more than a third of the week's total activity.

Check your area

What went down

Significant reductions occurred across other major violent crime categories. Assault incidents fell sharply by 62% to 15 cases, representing the largest statistical improvement of the week. Robberies declined by 41% to 13 cases, and reported shootings dropped by 53% to 8 incidents. While these decreases suggest a temporary stabilization in street-level violence, they must be weighed carefully against the increased severity of the attempted murder metrics.

One thing to watch

The 175% surge in attempted murders is the critical metric to follow next week. When near-lethal violence increases while overall shootings and assaults drop, it frequently points to highly targeted disputes or shifting dynamics within localized conflict zones. We will track these geographic patterns daily to determine if this spike begins to subside or signals a more permanent trend.

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The CrimeHotspots Team