Violent and property crime down in Northeast, reports FBI

Violent crime increased 1.3 percent in 2006 when compared with data from 2005. However, property crime decreased 2.9 percent for the same time period, according to the FBI.

Violent crime was up, except in the Northeast. Motor vehicle thefts went down while arson incidents rose across the country.

For 2006, property crime decreased 2.9 percent when compared with 2005 data. Motor vehicle theft offenses dropped 4.7 percent and larceny-theft offenses were down 3.5 percent. Burglary offenses increased slightly (0.2 percent).

Property crime decreased in all of the nation’s city population groups, ranging from a 3.4-percent decline in cities with populations of 100,000 to 499,999 persons to a 2.1-percent decrease in cities with 500,000 to 999,999 inhabitants.

Nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties also had declines in property crime, down 4.2 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, when 2005 data were compared with 2006 reports.

Motor vehicle theft and larceny-theft decreased in all population groups.

For burglary, non-metropolitan counties had the greatest decrease (4.6 percent) among the population groups, and cities with 500,000 to 999,999 inhabitants had the greatest increase (3.3 percent).

Three of the four regions saw decreases in reports of property crime from 2005 to 2006. However, property crimes were virtually unchanged (+0.1 percent) in the Midwest.

By offense type, each region experienced declines in the number of larceny-thefts and motor vehicle thefts.

Arson offenses, which are tracked separately from other property crime offenses, increased 1.8 percent from the previous year’s number. All population groups had increases in arson offenses except for cities with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants (-3.4 percent) and those cities with 100,000 to 249,999 persons (-0.8 percent).

Regarding volent crime, three of the nation’s four geographic regions had increases in violent crimes from 2005 to 2006. The Northeast was the exception as the number of violent crimes remained virtually unchanged (-0.1 percent) from the previous year.

By violent crime category, robbery offenses increased 6.0 percent and murder and nonnegligent manslaughter increased 0.3 percent. The number of forcible rapes decreased 1.9 percent, and aggravated assaults were down 0.7 percent.