Crime rates dropped for the first time in two years, according to a newly released report of the most recent data collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nationwide, violent crime fell 1.8 percent and property crime fell 2.6 percent in 2007 compared to the same period the previous year. The West witnessed a 1.6 percent drop in violent crime, and a 4.1 percent drop in property crime.
The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. Arson is also a property crime, but data for arson are not included in property crime totals. Figures for 2007 indicated that arson decreased 9.7 percent in the first half of the year, when compared to 2006 figures for the same time period.
The downward trends were wide-ranging.
- Violent crime fell in all four regions (West, Northeast, Midwest and South) and in each of the four offense categories. Nationally, murder and non-negligent manslaughter dropped 1.1 percent, forcible rape dropped 6.1 percent, robbery dropped 1.2 percent, and aggravated assault dropped 1.7 percent.
- Among population groups, decreases in violent crime were largest — 5.1 percent — in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 residents.
- The largest cities with 1 million people or more saw a 6.5 percent drop in murder rates, 14.2 percent drop in forcible rape, 4.3 drop in robbery, and 3.3 drop in aggravated assault.
- Property crime also declined in all offense categories: burglary (1.3 percent), larceny-theft (2.1 percent) and motor vehicle theft (7.4 percent).
Among the increases in crime rates:
- Violent crime rose 1.1 percent in non-metropolitan counties and in cities with populations between 10,000 and 24,999.
- Murder rates jumped 4.9 percent in metropolitan counties, 3.2 percent in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants, and 1.3 percent in non-metropolitan counties.
- Burglary offenses increased 3.5 percent in cities with 1 million or more residents.
- The South experienced a slight rise in property crime — 0.4 percent.
For more information, visit www.fbi.gov/ucr/prelim2007/index.html.
Topics Trends Fraud Pricing Trends Property
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
AIG General Insurance Chairman McElroy to Retire May 1 
Why New York’s Attorney General Objects to Trump’s Bond Insurer 
Aon Completes $13B Acquisition of Middle-Market Broker NFP 
North Carolina Adjuster and Son Charged With Embezzlement in Roof Jobs From This Issue
