The nation experienced a 3.5 percent decline in violent crime and a 2.5 percent decline in property crime for the first six months of 2008, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Violent crime was down in all regions, while property crime went down in all regions except the Northeast. The number of arsons was down in every region.
The FBI’s Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report is based on data from more than 11,000 law enforcement agencies for January through June of both 2007 and 2008.
Each of the four violent crimes (murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) experienced a decrease nationwide. Murder declined 4.4 percent, aggravated assault declined 4.1 percent, forcible rape decreased 3.3 percent, and robbery decreased 2.2 percent.
All population groups reported decreases in violent crime for January to June 2008 when compared with data from the same months in 2007.
Law enforcement agencies in all four regions of the nation reported declines in the number of violent crimes: 6.0 percent in the Midwest, 5.0 percent in the West, 2.9 percent in the Northeast, and 1.5 percent in the South.
For each property crime offense (burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft), a decrease was reported during the first six months of 2008 when compared with data from the first six months of 2007. The number of motor vehicle thefts decreased 12.6 percent; larceny-thefts, 1.2 percent; and burglaries, 0.8 percent.
Property crimes declined in all population groupings with the largest decline (4.3 percent) recorded in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants.
The only region to experience an increase (1.7 percent) in the number of property crimes was the Northeast. Property crimes declined 6.1 percent in the West, 4.7 percent in the Midwest, and 0.4 percent in the South.
By offense, the number of burglaries increased 2.7 percent in the Northeast and 0.6 percent in the South. However, the number of burglaries declined 4.4 percent in the West and 1.0 percent in the Midwest.
Law enforcement agencies in the Northeast and in the South reported increases in the number of larceny-thefts: 2.9 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. Larceny-thefts in the Midwest declined 4.6 percent and in the West, 3.7 percent.
Nationwide, reported arsons, which are tracked separately from other property crimes, declined 5.6 percent during the first half of 2008 when compared with data from the same time frame in 2007.
Law enforcement agencies in cities with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 were the only population grouping overall to report an increase, 2.0 percent.
Decreases in the number of reported arsons occurred in all regions of the country; the West had the largest decline at 8.7 percent.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Survey Shows Majority of Florida, California Homeowners Seeing Higher Insurance Costs 
Trump’s Bond Insurer Tells Judge Shortfall Is ‘Inconceivable’ 
AIG General Insurance Chairman McElroy to Retire May 1 
Uncertainty Keeps Prices Up; No Prior-Year Loss Development: Travelers From This Issue
