Security agencies dealt with 96,000 crimes last year, said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference in Riyadh, he said this indicates a 10.01 percent drop in the rate compared to last year.

He said the security agencies were able to crack 70 percent of the cases.

The ministry said violent crimes rose by 90.4 cases per 100,000 Saudi citizens, and reached their highest levels in Jeddah, Riyadh and Makkah.

The ministry said there was a 25.95 percent increase in crimes involving money. The ministry dealt with 1,877 cases of embezzlement.

Al-Turki revealed that car thefts decreased by 11.8 percent in comparison with last year. Riyadh registered the highest number of car thefts followed by Jeddah and Alkhobar.

Stabbings were highest in Taif.

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