WASHINGTON — Property crimes have declined 2.8 percent compared to 2009, according to the FBI’s latest report on nationwide crime statistics.

This is the eighth consecutive year that property crimes, such as burglaries, larcenies and auto thefts, have dropped, according to the FBI’s Preliminary Uniform Crime Report. Auto thefts, which fell 7.2 percent, showed the largest decline. Larcenies dropped 2.8 percent, while burglaries fell 1.1 percent.

Cities with populations between 500,000 to 999,999 reported the largest decline in property crime, with a 4-percent drop overall. Property crimes were generally down in metropolitan counties; however, rural counties saw a 2-percent increase. While most city groupings saw a decrease in larcenies, rural counties larceny thefts rose 3.2 percent.

Tracked separately from other property crimes, arson reports decreased 8.3 percent nationwide in 2010. The FBI said arson reports dropped across all four regions, with the West Coast showing the largest decrease at 13.9 percent.

For the fourth consecutive year, violent crime dropped in the U.S. in 2010. The steepest decline was in robbery reports (9.5 percent), while murder fell 4.4 percent overall. Despite the overall decline, murders rose 3 percent in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 people.

The report is based on data compiled by the FBI from more than 13,000 law enforcement agencies.

 

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