Kuala Lumpur police managed to reduce almost half or by 45.8 per cent of the unarmed gang robbery cases in the first eight months this year.

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Law Hong Soon said only 1,421 cases of unarmed gang robbery were recorded between January and August this year compared to 2,624 cases recorded in the the same period last year.

"The statistic also has shown that the crime rate in Kuala Lumpur recorded a decline of 22 percent or 3,229 cases last year," he told reporters after attending the Kuala Lumpur police chief monthly assembly at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters, Friday.

He said, last year, the crime rate recorded was 14,710 cases, and the number had decreased to 11,481 cases this year.

"Our achievement in the first eight months has given a positive impact and encouraging, and we have achieved the target of 10 per cent under the National Key Result Areas," he said.

Law said the number of unarmed robbery cases had also declined to 450 cases, compared to 651 cases in last year, while snatch thefts had decreased slightly from 429 cases to 381 cases.

"We will continue to work closely with the government agencies to conduct operations to fight these crimes," he said.