The number of crimes registered in Sofia for the first six months of 2001 is up compared with the same period last year. However, the rate of solved crimes has also increased, according to data from the semi-annual report of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior Ministry (SDIM).

The SDIM registered 16,530 crimes in Sofia for the first half of 2001 - 3,600 more than the same period of 2000. This year's rate of solved crimes is 43.6 per cent compared to 27.3 per cent last year.

Twenty-eight murders occurred during the reported period, two less than last year. Only five of them remain unsolved.

There has been an increase in the number of minors who have committed crimes connected with the use or distribution of drugs, according to Ilian Panchev, the deputy head of the SDIM Criminal Police Department. Another trend was the increase of blackmailing. This was usually connected with the theft of cars and attempts to seek a ransom for their return. According to Panchev, people preferred to pay the ransom instead of reporting the incidents to the police. About 12 cars get stolen daily in Sofia, according to the report. Thieves prefer Volkswagens, Mercedes and BMWs.

The SDIM registered 9,998 thefts for the reported period, 2,021 more than last year. Most of them were burglaries of private homes and the thieves usually took safes and computer equipment.

In terms of law enforcing success, the Economic Police with the SDIM have solved 1,416 economic crimes in Sofia, which have caused over 100 million leva worth of damage. SDIM employees have completed investigations of 1,279 crime reports. They have solved 90 per cent of crimes reported.

"Some of the most typical economic crimes among those that were uncovered were fraud with fake credit cards, distribution of counterfeit currency, false identification documents and fraud connected with visas for trips or work abroad," said Nikolai Nikolov, spokesman for the SDIM.

About 38 per cent of the registered crimes were double-dealings, 21.2 per cent were document frauds, 11.45 per cent were abuses of power and 6.27 per cent were misappropriations.

The SDIM observed that state property was no longer the main focus of criminal actions. That was due to the increased number of shareholders and privately owned property in the country.

According to Nikolov, there has been an increase in the number of crimes within privatized companies. The clash of economic interests connected with privatization deals has been registered as the main factor in such crimes. The data showed a distinct increase in the number of crimes connected with the illegal use of another's trademark and disloyal competition, said Nikolov.

According to him, there have been good results achieved in the fight against software piracy.