Mumbai: Crimes like rape and molestation have witnessed almost a three-fold increase in the metropolis since 2010-2011 raising questions over safety of women, children and senior citizens, according to a survey conducted by a city-based NGO.

In 2014, rape cases rose by 49 percent compared to 2013, while molestation went up by 39 percent, said Nitai Mehta, founder and managing trustee of Praja Foundation, quoting its survey.

In a span of four years from 2010-11 to 2014-15, rape cases jumped by 290 per cent and molestation cases were up by 247 per cent, Mr Mehta said.

In 2010-11, only 165 rape cases were registered while in 2014-2015, this number reached 643, he said.

Another matter of concern is the poor conviction rate in rape cases , he said adding “there were only 27 per cent convictions in 2014, compared to 57 per cent in UK last year.”

However, chain-snatching incidents decreased by 44 per cent in year 2014-2015 as compared to previous years.

Also, cases of theft and stolen vehicles as well as rioting dropped in 2014-2015 than in 2013-14, Mehta said.

Although, overall crime in the city has decreased in past four years, cases of murder in 2014-15 rose by a dozen than in year 2013-14, he said.

South Mumbai registered the highest number of crimes in 2014-2015 with 9,203 cases lodged in Byculla, Colaba, Worli and Malabar Hill. Of this, majority of them were theft cases, NDTV reported.

While in South-Central Mumbai constituency, which includes areas of Chembur, Sion-Koliwada and Mahim, the highest number of rape cases were registered.

The NGO conducted a household survey among 22,850 citizens across the city, in which 51 per cent of the respondents from South Mumbai were of the opinion that they face the maximum crimes.

Also, around 40 percent people in South Mumbai feel that their women, children and senior citizens are unsafe.

Further, 75 percent of the respondents approached police to register the crimes of which 53 per cent said they felt satisfied with the police work, said Mr Mehta.