Report: Violent and property crimes declined in '07

WASHINGTON (6/10/08)--The U.S. experienced a 1.4% decrease in the number of violent crimes--including robberies--and a 2.1% decline in the number of property crimes committed in 2007, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Robberies were down 1.2% from 2006 robberies, according to the FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report for 2007, released Monday.

All four of the violent offense categories declined nationwide from 2006. Forcible rape dropped 4.3%; murder and non-negligent manslaughter decreased 2.7%; and robbery and aggravated assaults each declined 1.2%.

Cities with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 saw the most decline in violent crimes: 3.9%. They also saw the largest decrease in robberies--3%. The nation's largest cities, with one million or more in population experienced 2.9% fewer robberies than in 2006.

However, violent crime in non-metropolitan counties rose 1.8% while metro counties decreased 1.7%. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter decreased 9.8% in cities of one million or more population; those crimes increased 3.7% in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 in population.

Three of the nation's four regions saw violent crimes drop. However, in the South, it rose 1.7% during 2007 over 2006 data.

Property crimes dropped in all city categories, with the greatest decrease--4.2%--in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants. Motor vehicle thefts declined in all population groups.
For more data, use the resource links.

courtesy of cuna.org