According to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, released today, the nation experienced a 1.2 % increase in the number of violent crimes and a 0.8 % decline in the number of property crimes in 2012 when compared with data from 2011. The report is based on information the FBI gathered from 13,770 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data for both 2011 and 2012.
Violent Crime
■ In 2012, the violent crime offenses of murder and non-negligent manslaughter increased 1.5 % from the 2011 figures, aggravated assault increased 1.7 %, and robbery increased 0.6 %. Forcible rape offenses declined 0.3 %.
■ Violent crime increased 3.7 % in cities with populations of 500,000 to 999,999, the largest increase in the city groupings. There was a 1.0 % decrease in violent crime in the nation’s cities with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants. Violent crime increased 1.2 % in metropolitan counties and declined 0.9 % in non-metropolitan counties.
■ Murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses increased in all city groups but one, with the largest increase (12.5 %) occurring in cities with populations of 500,000 to 999,000. Cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 showed the only decrease of murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses (1.3 %). Murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses declined 4.8 % in metropolitan counties and 0.4 % in non-metropolitan counties.
■ Cities with populations of 1 million and over in population experienced a 3.2 % increase in forcible rape offenses. Cities with 25,000 to 49,999 inhabitants experienced a 3.5 decrease in forcible rapes. Forcible rape offenses declined 1.2 % in metropolitan counties and increased 1.3 % in non-metropolitan counties.
■ Robbery offenses decreased 2.9 % in cities with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants, but increased 2.4 % in cities with populations from 250,000 to 499,999. Robberies increased 1.1 % in metropolitan counties and declined 1.1 % in non-metropolitan counties.
■Aggravated assaults remained virtually unchanged in cities with 25,000 to 49,000 in population and declined 0.6 % in cities with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants. Aggravated assaults increased in all remaining city groups, with the largest increase, 5.2 %, occurring in cities with 500,000 to 999,999 in population.
■ Violent crime increased in three of the four regions (3.3 % in the West, 1.3 % in the Midwest, and 0.6 % in the South). There was a 0.6 % decrease in violent crime offenses in the Northeast.
Property Crime
■ Nationally, the property crime offense of burglary decreased 3.6 % in 2012 when compared with 2011 data. Motor vehicle theft increased 1.3 %, and larceny-theft offenses remained virtually unchanged.
■ Property crime increased 0.4 % in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants. Decreases of 1.0 % in property crime were reported in cities with 25,000 to 49,999 in population and in cities with 1 million or more in population. Property crime decreased 3.5 % in non-metropolitan counties and 2.1 % in metropolitan counties.
■ Burglary offenses decreased in all city groups, including the largest decrease, 7.0 %, which was reported in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 in population. Burglaries decreased 4.3 % in non-metropolitan counties and 3.1 % in metropolitan counties.
■Larceny-theft offenses increased in all city groupings except those with populations of 25,000 to 49.999 and those with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, each of which reported a 0.2 % decrease. Larceny-thefts decreased 3.2 % in non-metropolitan counties and 2.2 % in metropolitan counties.
■ Motor vehicle thefts increased 4.9 % in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants, but decreased 5.1 % in cities with 1 million or more inhabitants. Metropolitan counties reported a 2.1 % increase in motor vehicle thefts while non-metropolitan counties reported a 2.1 % decrease.
■ Three of the nation’s regions had decreases in property crime in 2012 when compared with data from 2011. These offenses declined 3.5 % in the South, 2.1 % in the Midwest, and 1.6 % in the Northeast. However, property crimes increased 5.2 % in the West.
Arson
■ Arson offenses, which are not included in property crime totals, decreased 1.2 % nationwide. Arsons declined 4.3 % in both the Northeast and the South, but increased 1.6 % in the Midwest and 1.0 % in the West.