>> I think it's a fact that people have this perception, and I think that if it's a myth then it should be debunked.
>>*
>
>That's my point.
>If they have that perception, where did they get it?
>I don't expect to have to debunk myths promulgated by one of the most respected newspapers in the world.

In theory I am with you. In practice, there are more than a few problems ;-)

Following the Cologne problems of New Year 2016, sexually connected incidents are more often in the press.
How to compare/weigh numbers if writing an article? Comparison over time is marred by the fact that today many things are lumped together, which back then were not deemed a crime.
Also just by adding the fugitive slant there is reason to believe that the very person reporting might be affected: soon after Cologne a sexually assaulted "progressive" woman gave totally bogus perp description to the police (for fear of adding more fuel to the refugee assault topic, which she corrected in a short time) and probably the opposite effect can be found as well.
Comparing across locations has the same problem: an identical action will be reported, viewed and even judicially handled very different across the globe...
So marking that part as perception is not so bad IMO as you condemn it to be...