Is crime in Lebanon really on the decline?

While the ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon raises concerns about the worst-case security scenarios on the domestic front, and amid images circulating on social media of suspected burglars being caught by vigilantes in bombed and deserted neighborhoods, crime rates for the first eight months of 2024 appear to be generally lower than during the same period in 2023.This is shown by figures from the Internal Security Forces (ISF), which have not been publicly released but were compiled by Beirut-based research and consultancy firm Information International. Mohammad Chamseddine, who conducted the study, notes a significant decrease in car thefts, a slight reduction in general thefts, and stability in homicide cases. However, kidnappings for ransom have increased during this period. Read more Prison overcrowding: Prosecutor seeks to ease...